Economic Development Centres to begin activities as new regional operators at the start of 2026

As part of the reform of regional state administration, the Government will establish 10 regional Economic Development Centres which will be based on the current 15 Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres). The aim of the reform is to strengthen regional vitality and sustainable economic growth. The preparation of the reform is a joint effort of five administrative branches, with the reform affecting about 2,500 central government employees.

At the beginning of 2026, the Economic Development Centres would start to provide services to personal customers, companies, corporations and authorities in all regions. The preparations for the launch of the Economic Development Centres will continue during 2025. The legislative proposal on the reform is currently being considered by Parliament, which is expected to reply to it in June. After the legislative proposal has been adopted, the recruitment of directors will begin.

“The Economic Development Centres aim to boost growth and viability in the regions. The Centres will be familiar with the needs of the region and the customers and cooperate closely with all stakeholders to improve the conditions for regional prosperity,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman. An event on 14 May brought together a large group of stakeholders to learn about the preparation of the Economic Development Centres and to share views on how to best implement the reform from the customers’ perspective.

The Centres would be responsible for a wide range of tasks related to business and industry, employment, skills and culture, immigration and integration, agriculture and rural development, transport and road management, land use planning, water management, the promotion of biodiversity and good state of waters and marine areas as well as climate, fisheries, the implementation of the EU’s regional and structural policy programme, and the tasks of the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The Economic Development Centres would be responsible for most of the tasks of the current ELY Centres. Of the current environmental tasks of the ELY Centres, those related to permits and supervision will be transferred to the Finnish Supervisory Agency, which will also begin operations in 2026. In contrast, the Economic Development Centres will take over the tasks of the ELY Centres on water and marine area management and the promotion of biodiversity and climate. The responsibility for public passenger traffic will be transferred from the ELY Centres to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom).

The reform would enable the Economic Development Centres to divide the tasks between them and to specialise in certain fields. The KEHA Centre, whose name will change to the Employment, Administration and Development Agency at the beginning of 2026, will be in charge of the development and administration tasks of the Economic Development Centres. More than 130 experts are participating in the launch of the new Economic Development Centres. The experts come from the ELY Centres, the KEHA Centre, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and other ministries directing the future Economic Development Centres, the Finnish Food Authority, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency and Traficom. The projects to launch the Economic Development Centres and the Finnish Supervisory Agency are collaborating closely.

The reform of regional state administration is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government. The reform will strengthen sustainable economic growth by harmonising permitting and supervisory practices and by streamlining processes and services.

Inquiries:
Päivi Blinnikka, Project Manager, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 311, [email protected]
Marko Laiho, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 215, marko.laiho(at)gov.fi  
Riikka Ristinen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 265, riikka.ristinen(at)gov.fi