South Ostrobothnia

Frami Science Park in Seinäjoki is the home of several university units and hi-tech companies.

Region of opportunities

The beautiful and unique region of South Ostrobothnia is situated in the province of Western Finland. The region is made up of 19 municipalities, of which eight are towns and the rest are municipalities. The region is well known for its entrepreneurship and the exceptionally large number of small and medium size enterprises. South Ostrobothnia is truly a region of opportunities. The regional center of South Ostrobothnia is Seinäjoki, with nearly 60 000 inhabitants.

Excellent connections

Excellent traffic connections make the region a fast-paced and dynamic place. The connections to South Ostrobothnia are good by train, airplane or car. The trip from Helsinki to Seinäjoki takes only 2 hours 40 minutes by train or 50 minutes by airplane.

South Ostrobothnia is a crossroad point for 5 railroads and Finncomm airlines offers many flights a day from Seinäjoki airport to Helsinki and the rest of the world in cooperation with the national flag-carrier Finnair.

While the region is more famous for its vast fields and many rivers, South Ostrobothnia also has lakes. The Largest lake in the region is Lappajärvi; the lake was created by a meteorite millions of years ago.

Beautiful countryside

In South Ostrobothnia, you find yourself both surrounded by beautiful and fertile countryside and at the same time you can enjoy access to good services and a diversified cultural supply. The beautiful fields of the river valleys are typical for the region.

Power park amusement park in Alahärmä and Simpsiö skiing resort in Lapua are popular attractions.

Opportunities for free time activities

Even though the height differences of the terrain are low in the region, there are also skiing centers for downhill skiing. Skiing is not the only thing you can do; there are many other things as well. Designed by Robert Trent Jr., Ruuhikoski Golf court is the place to go for those of us who like golf. The Peugeot Golf Guide ranked this golf court as the best in Finland. How about a large amusement park for the whole family? Power Park in Alahärmä is a unique place with its huge rollercoasters and other wild rides. How about shopping? For a town of its size Seinäjoki has a surprisingly large variety of shopping centers and specialized boutiques. While the largest department store in Finland by sales is located in the heart of the country’s capital, Helsinki, the second largest is in the small village of Tuuri in the municipality of Töysä. This "Veljekset Keskinen" store is also the most popular tourist attraction in Finland. Sounds like a lot? It is! And these are just a few examples of the things you can experience in this pristine region.

Finn-Power metal technology plant in Kauhava employs workers, the vocational institute in Seinäjoki educates them.

Economy and sustainable development

South Ostrobothnia is known for its production of foodstuff, hi-tech, metal, and wood. The region is the national leader in the production of foodstuff. New innovations produce new products and new companies each year in this sector. Employing a large number of engineers, entrepreneurs, and experts the metal and hi-tech industry sector of the region is internationally oriented, growing, and technologically advanced. The wood sector of the region has also a lot of cooperation with foreign companies. Keeping in mind ecological factors, the efficiency of the production in this industry is maintained without damaging the natural replenishing capability of the region’s forests. This is because everybody understands that sustainable development is seen as a key to prolonged success in the region.

The sizeable "Veljekset Keskinen" department store in Töysä or the race track in Powerpark Alahärmä are good destinations for an unforgettable vacation.

Statistical data

Brochure (PDF)