Tavio urges SMEs to export, backs Team Finland reforms at Alihankinta

At the Alihankinta trade fair in Tampere (29 Sept–1 Oct 2026), Foreign Trade and Development Minister Ville Tavio warned that Finland’s economic growth must be driven by exports and by small and medium-sized enterprises joining international value chains, Tampereen Messut Oy said.

"Growth is born from thousands of small and medium-sized companies," Tavio told attendees, urging more growth-oriented firms and the courage to seek opportunities abroad. He framed the message as a practical call to action for entrepreneurs attending the three-day industrial event.

He said gatherings like Alihankinta help build the intercompany value networks that underpin international business. Closer cooperation between firms will become more important as the operating environment shifts and as economic, security and foreign-policy considerations increasingly overlap with trade.

Tavio highlighted planned reforms to the Team Finland network and the export promotion services housed in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He encouraged companies to internationalise boldly, and said public-sector work should focus on improving firms’ chances of success overseas.

His remarks followed the fair organisers' broader call for a €100 billion industrial growth leap centred on subcontracting and internationalisation Alihankinta organisers' €100bn growth call. The fair remains a major economic driver for the region, drawing nearly 30,000 manufacturing professionals and generating around €30 million annually for Pirkanmaa annual attendance and economic impact.