08.10.2026
From Dublin perspectives to the growth of cities and regions
The Mayors of Northern Ostrobothnia and representatives of the Regional Council made a study trip to Dublin, the capital of Ireland, from 30 September to 3 October 2026. Ireland currently holds the presidency of the EU.
During the study trip, the delegation became acquainted with current themes, such as the promotion of international investments, the development of rural areas and communities, and the regional economic importance of tourism. These themes are also topical in the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia at the moment.
The North Ostrobothnia Group visited the Irish State Investment Agency, whose mission is to attract foreign investment to the country.
“Ireland is known for its active investment policy. It has helped Ireland to attract a lot of international investment, which has been one of the key factors in the recovery of the Irish economy since the 2008 financial crisis," points out the Mayor of Northern Ostrobothnia. Jussi Rämet.
Ireland has succeeded very well in raising GDP. The gross domestic product of a country about the size of Finland is twice as large as in Finland. At the same time, Ireland has de facto full employment.
The growth and difference in GDP to Finland is explained almost exclusively by Ireland's long-term, consistent and successful invest-in activities. In the view of the participants, an interesting detail of the IDA's activities was the emphasis on development measures outside Dublin.
In addition to investments, tourism boosts the economy
The Irish Government's Ministry of Rural and Community Development focused on rural vitality, community-led development and access to services in sparsely populated areas.
The mayors also became acquainted with the activities of Fáilte Ireland, the Irish national tourism promotion organisation. The themes of the visit included the regional economic impact of tourism and Ireland's experiences and successes in developing regional tourism brands.
At the beginning of the visit, the group visited the European Parliament Visitors’ Centre in Dublin. More talk about the Irish presidency of the EU with the Finnish ambassador to Ireland Leena Gardemeister at the reception.
Ambassador Gardemeister presented the economic situation and operating environment in Ireland. Finland's visibility in Ireland and the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU were also discussed with the Ambassador.
"North Ostrobothnia's strong entrepreneurial spirit, internationality and ability to seize new opportunities also provide an excellent basis for new cooperation openings between Ireland and Finland," said Leena Gardemeister.
The cultural heritage of Ireland was part of the visit programme. The group visited Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, a medieval and Latin manuscript containing the four Gospels of the New Testament.
Dublin was the European Capital of Culture in 1991. During their visit, the municipal directors highlighted the Oulu2026 year in almost all of the places visited, which interested Irish hosts.
