Number of immigrant-led enterprises doubles in Finland

The number of immigrant-owned enterprises has almost doubled in Finland since 2001. According to Statistics Finland and the Trade Register, Finland has around 5,600 enterprises established and led by immigrants.
     
Immigrants are also more willing to start a business than native-born Finns. The proportion of entrepreneurs out of the foreign job holders is 16 per cent, while the corresponding figure for the original population is only 10 per cent.
      The information is based on a report submitted by a working group set up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which was published in Helsinki on Wednesday.
     
The mandate of the governmental working group was to find out how the prerequisites for immigrant entrepreneurship could be promoted in Finland.
      In its report the working group arrived at a set of 13 measures.
      The chairman of the group, Jorma Immonen from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, reported that it is of the utmost importance to develop the general preconditions for foreign entrepreneurs and to continue the work that has already been started.
     
The most urgent actions
would include the development of advice, education and financial services, he noted.
      The report also pointed out that the image of foreigners as "pizza and kebab entrepreneurs" is outdated. Even though the majority of immigrant entrepreneurs are still working in the commerce and restaurant sector, some 11 per cent of the businesses provide "information-intensive" services. This percentage is the same for the businesses in this branch run by the original population.
      "These services are largely gathered in the Greater Helsinki Area - immigrant-owned and Finnish-run businesses alike", reported member of the working group Tuula Joronen from the City of Helsinki Urban Facts.
     
Distinct differences exist between various nationalities in terms of entrepreneurship. The Turks are remarkably active at starting businesses, and the Asians in particular stand out as being eager entrepreneurs.
      Until recently, the immigrants of Russian origin have not been very interested in becoming entrepreneurs, even though this large group is highly educated with great potential.
      The report also stressed that some 700,000 to 800,000 employees will retire in Finland in the next couple of decades, and immigrants are needed to replace them.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish employers fail to take advantage of immigrants´ skills (11.11.2005)
  Attitudes of Finns towards immigrants more positive than previously (27.10.2005)
  Who are the newcomers that Finland wants? (13.12.2005)

Links:
  Ministry of Trade and Industry
  National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland
  City of Helsinki Urban Facts
  NYP in English