South Ostrobothnia Region

South Ostrobothnia is a model region for small and medium sized enterprises, as the number of SMEs can show. Entrepreneurship in the area has traditionally been labour intensive. Businesses in each field, such as logging, furniture, logistics, farming machinery, metal and particularly the aluminium industry have gathered into clusters. The strongest industry branches in the South Ostrobothnia are in the food, metal, wood and furniture sectors. Several technology centres support the businesses in their operations.

A university centre has been established in the regional centre, Seinäjoki, where the Helsinki and Vaasa Universities, Tampere University and Tampere University of Technology and the Sibelius Academy are all repre-sented. The Seinäjoki Polytechnic, another strong educator, operates in six localities. The adult education centres offer a continuous training for people already in the working life.

South Ostrobothnia has a strong cultural identity. It is known for tango, rock, opera and sports events as wells as nature, culture and village shopping tourism.

There were 194 100 inhabitants in South Ostrobothnia by the end of 2002.

For more information: South Ostrobothnia regional portal: http://www.etela-pohjanmaa.fi and Regional Council of Ostrobothnia's web page: http://www.epliitto.fi