Ostrobothnia Region

In the Ostrobothnia Region 53% of the population speaks Swedish as their native language. Ties to Sweden and to the other Nordic Countries have always been close. The industry in the region has become international and developed a strong energy technology cluster. Other leading fields are forest and metal industries and particularly boat building. The region is a centre of Finnish vegetable and fur production. The Merinova Technology Centre implements the Centre of Expertise Programme in the region.

University of Vaasa has four faculties and a Continuation Education Centre. The University of Åbo Akademi has Österbottens Högskola with two faculties in Vaasa. The Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration unit in Vaasa offers education in five subjects. Vaasa and Central Ostrobothnia Polytechnics offer higher education oriented into vocational subjects. There are also a number of other vocational institutions in the area.

Ostrobothnia has strongly maintained the Swedish language cultural heritage. In the region there are highly regarded opera and other music events.

Ostrobothnia had 173 000 inhabitants at the end of the year 2002.

More information: The regional portal of Ostrobothnia http://www.pohjanmaa.fi and the web page of the Regional Council http://www.obotnia.fi