HELSINKI FINLAND

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A customer entering an office of the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) in Helsinki in October 2019. Migri has warned that without additional investments in its ability to process work-based residence permit applications, the number of pending applications could exceed 200,000 by 2027, reports Helsingin Sanomat. (Vesa Moilanen – Lehtikuva)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES for processing work-based residence permit applications are required to avoid major difficulties with work-based immigration from outside the EU, argue the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and Ministry for Foreign Affairs, according to Helsingin Sanomat.

The difficulties arise from an increase in the number of work-based residence applications, which has continued with the exception of the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020.

Oda’s delivery lorries at a fulfilment centre in Vantaa on 15 December, 2021. The Norwegian company said last week it is considering shutting down its consumer-facing grocery delivery enterprise in Finland, citing a “dramatic change” in the capital market. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

ODA, a Norwegian online grocery retailer, announced last week it is considering packing up its virtual bags in Finland.

The Norwegian company highlighted that it managed to become the largest home delivery service specifically for groceries in its little over a year of operation in Finland. It generated over 22 million euros in revenue in the 11 months of last fiscal year it was active in the country, with the revenue on track to improve to 34 million euros in 2023.

LEHTIKUVA

The development of construction and real estate sector has been weak in the early part of 2023. The amount of construction in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area grew rapidly during the period of zero interest rates but is expected to decline significantly this year. The largest drop is in residential construction, but there is also a slight decrease in commercial construction. The rise in construction costs slowed down significantly in April, and there has been a significant increase in bidding activity.

LEHTIKUVA

In Helsinki, residents are more likely to change their residential areas when their family situation or income levels change. The income levels of other residents in the same area also influence relocation decisions, with a higher likelihood of moving when a household's income significantly differs from the income levels of their residential area. Helsinki residents tend to move to higher-income areas when their life circumstances stabilize.

During the Finnish Customs investigation, cash was found during residential searches. Some of the seized money was concealed within the structure of the suspect's residence, specifically inside the stove.

Finnish Customs (Tulli) has uncovered a significant criminal operation involving the smuggling of narcotic medications. The investigation, initially focused on drug trafficking, has revealed an estimated profit of over €160,000 from the illicit sale of controlled substances. In addition, over €700,000 in cash was seized during residential searches. Finnish Customs is investigating multiple serious offenses, including aggravated drug offenses and money laundering.

A farm in Leivonmäki, Finland. Photo: Fanny Schertzer

A recent report by E2 Research reveals that Ukrainian seasonal workers in Finland are motivated by financial stability and a desire to support their home country, particularly in light of the ongoing war. The study sheds light on the experiences of Ukrainian workers and the crisis resilience of the farm owners who employ them, offering valuable insights into the motivations and challenges faced by both groups. Conducted between December 2022 and February 2023, the research involved 31 qualitative interviews conducted in Ukrainian, Russian, and Finnish.

In Helsinki, the size of apartments has decreased over the past 20 years.

Recent years have witnessed a surge in the construction of predominantly small rental studios and one-bedroom apartments in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Tampere. This information comes from the research conducted by Mari Vaattovaara and Pekka Vuori in their study titled "Changes in Housing Construction in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Tampere in 2015-2021," released today.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens) spoke to reporters at the Oslo City Hall in Norway on Thursday, 1 June 2023. Haavisto was in the Norwegian capital to take part in an informal meeting of Nato foreign ministers. (Hanna Johre – AFP / Lehtikuva)

MINISTER for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (Greens) on Thursday revealed that Russia has responded to the Finnish diplomatic note about the freezing of bank accounts for Finnish diplomatic missions in Russia.

Haavisto said Russia took the course of action due to the banking difficulties its mission has experienced in Helsinki.

Lorries and shipping containers at the Port of Vuosaari in Helsinki in April 2022. Statistics Finland has downgraded its estimate of first-quarter economic growth, from 1.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto – Lehtikuva)

STATISTICS FINLAND has revised down its estimate of economic growth in the first quarter of the year.

Statistics Finland on Wednesday published preliminary data indicating that the gross domestic product grew by 0.2 per cent from the previous quarter between January and March, a noticeable downgrade from the 1.1 per cent suggested by a flash estimate published in mid-May.

On June 1st, World Milk Day is celebrated worldwide. In terms of the vitality of Finnish rural areas, the country's 4,500 dairy farms play a significant role. Last year, dairy sales revenue on these farms exceeded the one-billion-euro mark. The dairy industry considers responsibility as a long-term key factor for success, with animal welfare being one of its most important components. As an example of implemented responsibility initiatives, the globally unique cattle healthcare monitoring system, Naseva, covers over 95% of dairy farms.

More Articles ...

  1. Majority of district heating companies increase prices, reveals comparison by Omakotiliitto
  2. Significant shifts in job opportunities in the construction industry
  3. Summer algae forecast: Warm and calm weather conditions can lead to powerful blooms of blue-green algae in the Baltic Sea
  4. Finland’s VR adopts new price system, expanding range of ticket prices
  5. Finland’s land-use sector was narrowly a carbon sink in 2022, says Luke
  6. Kuusamo airport set for renovation: Temporary flight suspension planned from Mid-July to Mid-August 2023
  7. Finland's greenhouse gas emissions declined by 4% in 2022, preliminary data shows
  8. Entrepreneurs: Promote workplace agreements, curb illegal strikes
  9. New nature conservation law comes into effect on June 1st
  10. Helsinki Pride welcomes Centre and National Coalition-linked organisations as partners
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