Port of Turku’s importance is emphasised in increasingly tense security conditions
Turku is a real seaside city. The sea and the port have always opened up connections – and, consequently, commercial opportunities – to the world outside. I believe that will be the case in the future as well.
Around 97% of Finland’s total imports and exports are carried by sea. Replacing imports by land transports would in practice be impossible. Although Turku can be perceived above all as a passenger harbour, I consider it to have great significance as a node for exports and imports: securing the truck transports on board car ferries is extremely important in terms of Finland’s operational capacity. The Port of Turku plays a key role in that respect.
Location, location, location
Turku is a natural logistics hub: the port, airport and rail system provide diverse connections to the rest of the world and to different parts of Finland. The ongoing development of the Port of Turku is important from the points of view of both logistics and security.
The changes in our security environment will inevitably turn our eyes to Turku. If the tensions in the Baltic Sea increase further, it is important that transports can be flexibly transferred to our westerly ports. The significance of the ports of Southwest Finland is also central from the point of view of security policy.
Improved competitiveness – through co-operation
There are many interesting projects underway in Turku. In addition to the development of the Port, attention is focused on the green corridor that is emerging between Turku and Stockholm. The corridor is intended to be fossil-free by 2035.
I believe that this project with ambitious environmental impacts will open up new opportunities for Finnish companies: pioneering in climate issues is one of the competitive advantages of Finnish navigation. Trailblazing work is carried out e.g. by Wärtsilä in the development of alternative fuels.
We should not forget about the unique environment formed by Turku and the archipelago surrounding it, either. This environment can be used in testing solutions for different aspects of maritime industry – such as e.g. autonomous navigation – as well as cyber security. What works in the Turku archipelago amidst challenging weather conditions, will certainly work elsewhere in the world, too.
Improving the competitiveness of Finnish companies is a common goal for all of us. In a small country it is important that the co-operation between municipalities, authorities and the business world works smoothly, from the points of view of competitiveness as well as overall security. I firmly believe that by increasing our co-operation further we can achieve more. We at Traficom are ready for that.
Jarkko Saarimäki
Director-General, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom
Jarkko Saarimäki has been working as the Director-General of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom since December 2023. Before that, Mr Saarimäki worked in executive positions in the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and at Traficom in the National Cyber Security Centre Finland and the Transport System Services. Mr Saarimäki is Master of Laws by education. His leisure activities include jogging and working out at the gym.
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom builds a safe, secure and well-functioning society which is founded on cyber security, transport and communications. The purpose of the agency is to secure sustainable, well-functioning and secure movement of people, goods and information, and it also acts as an authority serving people and businesses in licence, registration and supervisory matters in its field.