Wooden construction in Finland needs to be developed. This region (Kouvola region) has a skilled workforce and ideas.
Minister of Labour Lauri Ihalainen (Kouvolan Sanomat 31.8.)
What is the potential of wooden construction seen by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Sixten Sunabacka, Director of the Forestry Strategic Programme?
An example is Sweden, where for over a decade there has been an investment in wooden construction in bridges, apartment buildings, daycare centers, and other public buildings. According to their information, the market share of wooden apartment buildings is now around 20 percent.
If we in Finland were to pursue the same goal, it would mean a business worth several hundred million euros and thousands of jobs. There is a long way to go to achieve it, but if it is possible in Sweden, then why wouldn't it be possible in Finland as well. Of course, the jobs brought about by wood construction may be partly removed from other construction, but using wood as a domestic raw material would also bring significant multiplier effects.
The sector should also invest in exports. The value of forest industry exports last year was just under 11 billion euros, and 80 percent of exports were paper and pulp products. The value of exports of wood products, which include, in addition to wooden houses, door and window furniture, was just under half a billion. We have a great need and potential to increase exports of all wood products.
