Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has published a new national maritime industry strategy, providing an up-to-date overview of the operating environment of the Finnish maritime industry.
“The maritime industry has become one of Finland’s leading growth sectors and has a significant impact on the direction of our national economy,” says Mika Nieminen, Chairman of the Board of Finnish Marine Industries and CEO of Rauma Marine Constructions.
The strategy identifies several key themes: innovation and technological leadership, skills and labour availability, exports and new markets, government vessels and security of supply, as well as investment, financing and ownership. It also examines the role of the state and the importance of domestic ownership in the development of the sector.
According to Elina Andersson, CEO of Finnish Marine Industries, it is essential that implementation of the strategy gets underway in a determined manner and in cooperation with key industry stakeholders.
“Achieving the objectives requires concrete action. Among the recommended measures, particularly important ones include a productivity programme; a co-development model for research, development and piloting in connection with government vessel procurement; securing financing for growth companies and ensuring the availability of industry expertise; and increased investment in exports and export promotion. These measures must be allocated adequate funding, given specific targets and supported by a regular monitoring framework,” Andersson emphasises.
Finnish Marine Industries has participated in preparing the strategy and is committed to continuing its active role in its implementation. The policy objectives for the next government term, published by Finnish Marine Industries today, are closely linked to the maritime industry strategy and its recommendations.
The aim is for implementation of the strategy to contribute to the sector’s competitiveness, growth and renewal. The maritime industry is already one of Finland’s growth engines, but considerable untapped growth potential remains.
Work on the strategy began in October 2025, when the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed a working group to prepare the new strategy. The previous Finnish maritime industry strategy dates back to 2013.
With an annual turnover of approximately EUR 12 billion, the maritime industry is a strategically important export sector and critical to Finland’s security of supply. It directly employs more than 30,000 professionals. Finnish companies supply high-tech solutions for all types of vessels to global markets, helping to accelerate the green and digital transition in shipping.
The sector is known for its platform deliveries and technological solutions for cruise ships, passenger ferries and specialised vessels, including icebreakers and government vessels, as well as offshore applications. Its companies represent the entire breadth of the technology industry, ranging from shipyards and design companies to equipment and system suppliers, turnkey suppliers, software companies and material suppliers.
Source: Finnish Marine Industries
