Finnish business leaders sign pledge to boost growth, investment and tech adoption

A group of twenty Finnish CEOs, major shareholders and their delegates have pledged to lift growth aspirations, allocate more capital to business expansion and implement cutting-edge technology. Among the signatories are Antti Herlin of Kone, Mika Anttonen of ST1, Nokia board chair Timo Ihamuotila, and Annika Paasikivi of Oras Invest, as well as leaders from pension firms Ilmarinen and Varma. The declaration, driven by Elinkeinoelämän keskusliitto chair Aaro Cantell, calls for owners to set higher targets and reward executives who drive transformation.

Cantell points to his own company Normet, whose turnover has risen by an average of 15 % annually over two decades, to illustrate the benefits of sustained investment. The pledge also references research showing Finnish large firms lag behind global peers in revenue growth, R&D spending and mergers, attributing the gap partly to an outdated corporate culture. Experts such as Labor director Mika Maliranta view the commitment as a sign that attitudes toward growth are shifting, while Eurostat data highlights Finland’s strong per-employee investment in machinery and equipment.