From Immigrant to Entrepreneur tour begins

Immigrants, who have been granted a residence permit, are encouraged to become entrepreneurs. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Finnish Enterprise Agencies and the TE Offices are to visit reception centres in early summer and autumn to speak about how to seek employment or become an entrepreneur in Finland.

The tour begins on 18 May 2016 at the Finnish Red Cross reception centre in Auramo, Vantaa. The event will be opened by Minister of Justice and Employment Jari Lindström and EK Director General Jyri Häkämies.

“There are an abundance of entrepreneur services available in Finland, but it can be difficult for immigrants to find these. At the event, experts will give advice on how to get started. It is in everyone’s interests that asylum seekers, who have been granted a residence permit, find their way to the labour market as quickly as possible. This is also the government’s objective,” Minister Lindström emphasises.

At the events, advisers from the Finnish Enterprise Agencies and TE Offices, as well as entrepreneurs of immigrant background will provide immigrants with guidance on matters related to entrepreneurship.

Employment of immigrants strengthens economy

The MEE and EK emphasise that immigrants, who gain employment, alleviate problems in reconciling labour demand and supply and reduce the sustainability gap. Successful integration strengthens Finnish society and Finland’s economy. The EK and MEE emphasise the importance of positive attitudes in employment.

“Immigrant entrepreneurs and their networks can add an important contribution to building Finland into a competitive society. Over 30 per cent of enterprises established with the help of the Helsinki Enterprise Agency have been established by an entrepreneur of foreign decent, and asylum seekers around Finland, who have been granted a residence permit, are encouraged to engage in similar entrepreneurship ventures,” says Mr Häkämies.

In Vantaa, immigrants will receive guidance from entrepreneurs Abdiqadar Hirsi and Abdelaziz Abdelnabi, who have already integrated into Finnish society. Additionally, Managing Director Marketta Korhonen and Business Advisor Irene Matinpalo from the Enterprise Centre for new businesses in Vantaa as well as Expert Katja Kultalahti from the Uusimaa TE Office will tell participants about where they can get advice, if they are interested in entrepreneurship. The event will be hosted by Member of Parliament Nasima Razmyar.

The next event will be held on 14 June in Tampere. At that time, the event will be opened by Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn and Director General Jyri Häkämies.

Further information:

Adviser Jenni Ruokonen, EK, tel. +358 40 540 5254

CEO Jari Jokilampi, Finnish Enterprise Agencies, tel. +358 50 073 1445

Ministerial Adviser Tiina Oinonen, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, tel. +358 29 504 9295

Service Supervisor Olli Päärnilä, Uusimaa TE Office, tel. +358 29 504 0648

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Press release from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy and the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK