One of the speakers during the seminar was a new member of the Finnish Parliament, Martin Paasi. His topic was “Finland Needs an Inspiring Vision for Its Future: A Nordic Approach”. He presented his views on Finland’s economic future, involving declining labour productivity and growing government debt. He also stressed the need for foreign investments and workers.
– By putting a heavy focus on the Nordic region, we will become stronger in Europe and in the global economy, Paasi said.
Paasi also highlighted Finland’s unique position as the only EU country with critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, essential for industries such as battery manufacturing. According to him, Finland should take charge of its mineral excavation to avoid being overrun by EU directives.
Martin Paasi, member of the Finnish Parliament, presented his views on Finland’s economic future.
A Fixed Link Over Kvarken Needs Both Public and Private Financing
Kim Wikström, Professor in Industrial Management at Åbo Akademi, presented how to finance a fixed link over Kvarken. Wikström proposed a hybrid model involving both public and private financing as the most feasible solution for this cross-border infrastructure project.
– If you’re doing a cross-border project, you need to align the countries’ interests, Wikström pointed out.
Wikström stressed that the fixed link over Kvarken is a project that reaches far into the future and that’s why it should be seen as more than just a regular infrastructure project. If we start calculating based on the traffic that we have today between Umeå and Vaasa, this project won’t succeed. That’s why it’s important to show that the fixed link has wider, long-term benefits for the region.
Kim Wikström, Professor in Industrial Management at Åbo Akademi, presented how to finance a fixed link over Kvarken.
Best Relations in the World
Both Paasi and Wikström, as well as the rest of the speakers – Wegger Christian Strømmen, Niklas Eklund, and Risto E. J. Penttilä – also participated in a panel discussion at the end of the seminar. The discussion covered topics such as the geopolitical situation, Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership, cooperation in the Nordics, and the fixed link over Kvarken.
– We should avoid doing nothing. Big projects work as symbols and bring initiative, which shows that we actually can change things, Paasi said.
The panellists also discussed cooperation between universities in the Nordics. Everyone agreed that there should be more exchange between the Nordic universities.
– The best thing for young people is to leave their country. If you go to Europe, you realise that you’re Nordic. If you go outside of Europe, you realise that you’re European, Penttilä pointed out.
– Is there a place in the world where relations between countries are better than in the Nordics? I’m not sure. We must capitalise on that, Strømmen said.
Watch the recording of the event HERE.
Read the other text about our event during Wasa Future Festival HERE.