Press releases

The Provincial Government convened on Monday 27 February to make a proposal to the Provincial Council on the person to be elected to the position of Provincial Director. The provincial council meeting will be held on Monday 13 March. As of 1 April 2023, the position of regional director has become vacant following the resignation of the current regional director. Eleven applications were submitted for the vacant post of Provincial Director. The provincial government invited six applicants to the interview, of which three candidates progressed to the personal assessment: M.Sc. (Econ.), LL.M. Ann-Mari Kemell, M.Sc. (Econ.) Tiina Rajala and M.Sc. (Econ.) Jussi Rämet. The proposal of the President of the Provincial Government at the meeting of the Provincial Government on 27 February was that the Provincial Council elects Jussi Rämet, M.A., to the position of Provincial Director. At the meeting, a supported amendment proposal was made that the provincial government does not propose the person to be elected to the provincial council; instead, the election of the provincial president will take place in an official election at the provincial council meeting on 13 March 2023. After a clear vote (11-2), the Provincial Government decided to propose Jussi Rämet to the position of Provincial Director.…

The Government decided on 16 February 2023 on the allocation of funds for the 2023 programme of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy to the intermediate bodies. The proposal for the distribution of powers to the ELY Centres and Regional Councils is, in substance, in line with the proposals for regional funding plans. In view of the exceptionally large number of granting powers and in order to ensure efficient project financing and speed of disbursements, only 60% of the regional ERDF resources are proposed for distribution to the intermediate bodies at this stage. Regional JTF funds are also proposed to be distributed to the IBs at this stage for 60% of the mandate. The remainder of the mandate is proposed for distribution by decisions of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on the basis of the progress of project funding. As a rule, despite the phasing, each region and authority would receive its allocation according to the original financing plan, but with sufficient funding rotational speed…

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's investment programme does not implement the objectives of the Transport12 plan in terms of accessibility, sustainability and efficiency and climate change in northern Finland. Russia's war of aggression has changed its geopolitical position and the weight of the north has increased decisively. Changes in mobility flows, the preconditions for military mobility, as well as the energy crisis and security of supply needs underline the importance of the North. The logistics position of Northern Ostrobothnia and Northern Finland as a whole has changed internationally and in relation to the rest of Europe. The programme completely ignores the needs of the inhabitants and business life in northern Finland. In Northern Finland, ongoing and ongoing business investments must be reflected in a completely different weight. The strong transformation related to the energy economy requires immediate investments in the fairway infrastructure in Northern Ostrobothnia and in the whole of Northern Finland. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's investment programme does not implement the European Union's transport policy objectives for Northern Finland.…

The provincial government met on Monday 13 February for a hybrid meeting. On advocacy matters, Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä told about the state and provincial regional development discussions that took place last week. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is involved in the themes of security of supply and overall safety. Complement to the selection of the Regional Director - Vehkaperä for an interview The position of Regional Director will be vacant as of 1 April 2023. Eleven applications were received for the vacant post of Provincial Director. The Provincial Government noted that Tiina Rajala and Mirja Vehkaperä had supplemented their application after the application period had ended. The Provincial Government has been supported by a preparatory group and expert work from Eezy Personnel has been purchased for the filling process of the post. On 24 January 2023, five candidates were interviewed for the position of Provincial Director, three of whom were invited to a management-level assessment. The Provincial Government decided to invite Mirja Vehkaperä for an interview on the proposal of the study group that met on Sunday 12 February 2023. Interview will be held…

The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group supports the following projects to be funded under the Finnish Structural Funds Programme for Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014-2020: Digital skills for working life / ESF, REACT-EU (additional funding) North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment Respiratory Association Part-executor: Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd Total cost estimate 29,985 € ERDF and state funding applied for 23,987 € Individual coaching period is planned for the project's customers and the measures to be utilised are agreed upon, such as digital workshop coaching, individual coaching, group activities and training. The secretariat of the regional cooperation group supports the following projects to be funded under the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027: Digital campus as part of vocational training / ERDF Responsible authority: Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia Applicant: Joint municipal authority for education OSAO Total cost estimate 1 525 281 € ERDF and state funding requested 1 067 697 € The objective of the project is…

The selection group preparing for the selection of the Regional Director of Northern Ostrobothnia has decided to send three candidates to the suitability assessment: Ann-Mari Kemell, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment Tiina Rajala, Development Director, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia Jussi Rämet, Mayor, Municipality of Muhos Eleven applicants sought the position of Regional Director. Five of them were invited to interviews, which took place on 24 January 2023. The current Regional Director of Northern Ostrobothnia, Pauli Harju, has resigned as of 31 March 2023. As of 1 February 2023, Markus Erkkilä, Director of Planning, will act as the Vs. Provincial Director until the new Provincial Director takes office. For more information on the process of electing the regional director, please contact Mari-Leena Talvitie, President of the Regional Council, tel. +358 44 5273 288, and Jussi Ylitalo, President of the Regional Government, tel. +358 45 1606466.

The Northern Ostrobothnia Provincial Cooperation Group will conduct a meeting and study visit to the region from 23 to 24 January 2023. The programme includes visits to the following companies and projects WoodComp Oy and the Lapaluoto port area, hosted by Marko Paloniemi Centria University of Applied Sciences project activities ViVa project Metal industry development entity and the Kerttu Saalasti Institute of the University of Oulu. At its meeting on 23 January 2023, the cooperation group will discuss the following matters: Mayor Jukka Puoskari, Managing Director Janne Anttila, Director of Economic Development Miia Himanka and Port Director Petri Nikupeteri, ESF activities in Northern Ostrobothnia in the 2014-2020 programming period Structural Fund-funded business support in the 2014-2020 programming period European Regional Development Fund activities and the results of projects funded by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia in the 2014-2020 programming period The start of the new programming period and the review of the Just Transition Fund (JTF). Agenda of the regional cooperation group Additional information: Heikki Ojala, Regional Development Manager, tel. 050 4333951

The Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia held its first meeting of the year in Oulu on Monday, 16 January. For Regional Director Pauli Harju, this was his last meeting before he went on leave. In matters of lobbying, Harju spoke about the Northern Programme. The Regional Councils of the North, cities, higher education institutions, chambers of commerce and business associations propose that the next government initiate the Government-level Northern Programme. The programme strengthens Finland's geopolitical position and sustainable growth by utilising northern know-how, energy, logistics, natural resources and international connections. Utilising the opportunities of the north is in the interest of Finland as a whole. Hinno, Kaiponen, Kemell, Rajala and Rämet were interviewed for the position of Regional Director. The provincial government decided to invite the following persons to interviews to be held on 24 January: Kimmo Hinno, Mayor, City of Haapavesi Jyrki Kaiponen, Regional Director, Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia Ann-Mari Kemell,…

Eleven applicants sought the post of Regional Director of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. At its meeting on 16 January 2023, the Provincial Government decided to invite the following persons to the interview: Kimmo Hinno, Mayor, City of Haapavesi Jyrki Kaiponen, Regional Director, Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia Ann-Mari Kemell, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment Tiina Rajala, Development Director, Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia Jussi Rämet, Mayor, Municipality of Muhos Interviews will be held on 24 January 2023 and possible personal assessments after that. According to the agreed schedule, the provincial council will elect the provincial director on Monday, 13 March 2023. The current Regional Director of Northern Ostrobothnia, Pauli Harju, has resigned as of 31 March 2023. As of 1 February 2023, Markus Erkkilä, Director of Planning, will act as the Vs. Provincial Director. For further information on the position of Regional Director, please contact Mari-Leena Talvitie, President of the Regional Council, tel. +358 44 5273 288 and Jussi Ylitalo, President of the Regional Government, tel. +358 45 1606 466.

The Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has awarded the Northern Ostrobothnia Prize to Ruka Nordic. The North Ostrobothnia Prize is awarded for life's work for the benefit of North Ostrobothnia or for work that has made North Ostrobothnia known and strengthened its identity. Ruka Nordic is the world cup competition for ski jumping, combined and cross-country skiing in Ruka, Kuusamo. Kuusamon Erä-Veikot Ry is responsible for organizing Ruka Nordic and for the overall responsibility of the event. In 2022, the competition was held for the 21st time. The event, which takes place on the last weekend of November, is attended annually by up to 400 athletes from around 30 different countries. The event attracts around 20,000 viewers, in addition to which it has an international TV coverage of around 90 to 110 million live viewers. The number of spectator contacts during the weekend is approximately 1.1 billion. This is a very valuable image for Kuusamo and Finland as a whole. Event…