The preparation of the Eastern Finland Special Economic Zone is nearing completion, but doubts have arisen about governmental commitment due to recent statements from the finance minister.
The Prime Minister's Office has announced that the preparation for the Eastern Finland Special Economic Zone is in its final stages. This announcement follows recent remarks by Finance Minister Riikka Purra during a parliamentary question session, where she cast doubt on the government's intentions to advance the initiative. Purra indicated that the government is not planning any major actions regarding the special economic zone, leading to concerns about the project's future.
Despite these concerns, Harri Martikainen, the head of the strategy department at the Prime Minister's Office, stated that preparations for the Eastern Finland economic area continue based on recommendations from special representative Harri Broman. Martikainen emphasized that under his leadership, the preparation work is ongoing, and efforts are being made to finalize the proposal for submission to the government for political consideration soon.
The upcoming political handling of the proposal will ultimately determine whether the project will progress to the government’s fiscal review in spring and possibly move towards implementation. While Martikainen could not provide a definitive answer regarding the project's advancement, the proposal is being prepared for political discussion, which is a crucial step in the decision-making process for the Eastern Finland Special Economic Zone.
