Business Tampere Opens an Office in Lviv to Support Companies’ Business in Ukraine

The new office strengthens the opportunities for companies in the Tampere City Region to operate in Ukraine’s developing economy. The Lviv office will serve as a gateway for finding partners, customers and new business opportunities.

Nearly 100 people attended the opening of the office, including representatives of Finnish and Ukrainian companies, cooperation partners, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, and representatives of the City of Tampere.

Lviv’s Investment Director Andriy Pavliv introduced the Tampere delegation to everyday life in the region and its business opportunities. Photo: Olli Ikäheimo.

Business Tampere CEO Harri Ojala sees the Tampere City Region’s active engagement in Ukraine as an important strategic initiative.

“We are living through a period of major change. Ukraine is building its future and will become an increasingly significant part of the European economy. Alongside defence companies, interest in Ukraine has also grown in sectors such as energy and health technology,” Ojala says.

Lviv has grown into a city of more than one million people during the war.

Together with companies and partners, Business Tampere has been building cooperation with increasing intensity. Several companies from the Tampere City Region have already visited Ukraine this year, and the aim now is to make it easier for companies to gain concrete access to the Ukrainian market.

Cemetery for soldiers killed in the war in Lviv. Olli Ikäheimo

“We have an exceptional level of expertise in the Tampere region that is needed in Ukraine. We have built strong local contacts. Now was the right time to create a more permanent platform through which companies can move forward into practical cooperation,” Ojala continues.

Companies building direct contacts

During the opening week, representatives of around ten companies travelled to Lviv. With support from Business Tampere, the companies have met local partners and are building direct business relationships.

Business Tampere sees the Tampere region as a regional frontrunner in cooperation with Ukraine. At the beginning of September, a group of Ukrainian media representatives and Lviv’s Investment Director Andri Pavliv visited the Tampere region. They were introduced to the region and to selected local companies.

Lviv is a historic meeting place of cultures and today serves as the centre of western Ukraine. The Lviv National Opera was built in 1900.

For matters concerning the Business Tampere office and Ukraine cooperation as a whole, the contact person is CEO Harri Ojala.

For companies seeking support for Ukraine-related cooperation in sectors other than defence technology, the Business Tampere contact person is Minna Tihinen. In defence and dual use: Mika Kulkas.