One of the key objectives of the Southwest Finland Strategy 2040+ is a Sustainably Vibrant Southwest Finland. In the strategy, vitality refers to the ability to generate sustainable economic growth, employment and wellbeing. It is built on strong business activity, a skilled workforce and the capacity to renew – and above all on cooperation between different actors.
In the strategy, vitality is examined particularly from the perspectives of business activity, transformative technologies, and the food and resource economy. As the regional centre, the City of Turku plays an important role in this overall picture. Mayor of Turku Piia Elo emphasises that vitality cannot be built alone, but as part of the region’s shared development.
Vitality is more than economic growth
According to Piia Elo, vitality for the City of Turku is much more than a single indicator of economic growth. It is a holistic concept in which employment, business, skills and the smooth functioning of everyday life are closely interconnected.
– Vitality starts with people having jobs, companies having the conditions to grow, and everyday life in the city working well. When the basics are in place, wellbeing, trust and confidence in the future follow, Elo explains.
This thinking is closely aligned with the Southwest Finland strategy, where vitality is seen as long‑term and sustainable development rooted in skills, employment and the ability to renew.
Businesses and renewal at the heart of vitality
In the Southwest Finland strategy, business activity and the ability to renew are at the core of vitality. In Turku, this is reflected in strong competence clusters, close cooperation with universities, and investments in operating environments that support business growth and investment.
Elo highlights that successful companies are the most visible indicator of vitality.
– The city’s role is to create favourable conditions, but vitality is always built together with businesses and other partners. When new solutions, jobs and investments emerge, the benefits extend across the entire region, she says.
Turku’s strengths are naturally connected to the region’s broader priorities, such as transformative technologies and the food and resource economy, which are central themes in the vitality objective of the strategy.
Vitality is built together
The Southwest Finland strategy emphasises that vitality is built through cooperation between municipalities, businesses, universities and other stakeholders. To support the implementation of the strategy, the Southwest Finland Developers’ Forum brings regional actors together to advance shared goals and translate strategic objectives into concrete action.
According to Piia Elo, Turku sees itself in this context as a partner rather than a standalone actor.
– In Southwest Finland we share a genuine common interest: we all want the region to succeed. Vitality does not emerge if everyone only looks at things from their own perspective, Elo notes.
While the development of the regional centre has an impact across Southwest Finland, Turku’s own vitality is also strongly built on regional cooperation. Building connections between people, businesses and skills is the foundation of vitality.
– When skills, companies and people are increasingly connected, sustainable vitality is created for the whole of Southwest Finland, Elo concludes.
