New Steering Group to Draft National Growth Agreement for Finland’s Events Sector

According to a press release from ePressi, a national growth agreement process for the events sector, commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, launched on 1 April and will run until 30 September 2026. Industry body Tapahtumateollisuus has appointed a 26-member steering group to guide the preparation.

The growth agreement model is a targeted dialogue and cooperation framework. It brings private event businesses and public-sector bodies together to set shared development and growth targets and concrete measures to reach them. Similar agreements have previously been used for audio-visual production, creative content such as music and literature, and the textile and fashion industries.

The steering group will guide drafting of the agreement, steer the project's work and ensure a broad range of stakeholder perspectives are considered. It is chaired by Mirkka Rautala (Director of Operations, Finland Venues), with Sami Kerman (CEO, Tapahtumateollisuus) as vice-chair. Members include venue and promoter representatives — Paulina Ahokas (Tampere-talo) and Juhana Stenbäck (Lippupiste) — national agencies such as Business Finland and Tukes, municipal and regional figures including Perttu Pesä (City of Tampere) and Jarkko Tonttila (Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development), and representatives from education, safety and sector organisations.

"The event sector is an important builder of vitality, employment and attractiveness in Finland. The growth agreement gives us a chance to identify the sector's largest growth potentials and to build practical actions to realise them," Rautala said. Jarkko Tonttila added: "Close cooperation between private event companies and public actors is essential. Growth comes from companies willing to expand, but public actors can help enable that growth."

Ida Minkkinen, the project manager for the process, said the sector has grown strongly and that coordinated action can better recognise its special characteristics and unlock further gains.

Organisers say the process aims to produce a jointly agreed plan of action that will form the basis for longer-term collaboration between the events sector and public authorities. Over the coming months the steering group will oversee stakeholder consultations and draft the agreement, which must be completed by the end of its mandate in September 2026.