Finnish Business & Culture in Poland 2026

FINNISH
BUSINESS
&CULTURE
in Poland
2026
N o 5
DISCOVER OVER 50
EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES
AND INTERVIEWS
Portowa Zabłocie project by YIT in Kraków
INTRODUCTIONS
TO CHAMBERS
& EMBASSIES
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
DEFENCE SECTOR
IN POLAND
SUCCESS STORIES,
MARKET ENTRIES
& SUPPORT COMPANIES
NEWS & EVENTS
CULTURE & SPORT
MAPS & RANKINGS

Forewords
THIS PUBLICATION
IS ISSUED UNDER
THE PATRONAGE
OF THE EMBASSY
OF FINLAND
IN POLAND
Dear readers
The year 2025 can be seen as a turning point
in Polish-Finnish relationships. Never before
has Poland been so positively visible in the
Finnish media – the image of Poland has
taken a major leap over the last couple of
years. Never before have Finnish companies
been involved in so many acquisitions, deals,
investments and new market entries in Poland.
When it comes to the Finnish export rankings,
Poland is in sixth or seventh place. We export
more goods to Poland than to countries like
Italy, France or the UK. And it is two-way
traffic – we must remember that Polish
companies are also shopping abroad, with
two acquisitions in Finland in 2025 and surely
more to come.
Copyright © 2026
Spondeo Consulting
Asunmaa.
All rights reserved.
Editor-in-chief:
Tuomas Asunmaa
Content management:
Spondeo
Website:
www.spondeo.pl
Email address:
office@spondeo.fi
Contact:
tuomas@spondeo.fi
+48 514 615 048
On the culture side, the most delightful news
were the three Polish-themed books that were
published in Finland, as well as the unexpected
success of Miki Liukkonen’s grand book
“O”, which climbed to the unprecedented top
of the foreign-translated literature ranking
in Empik stores in Poland. Otherwise, Finnish
bands and artists from heavy metal to classic
and jazz gave numerous concerts and the
winning team of the Polish football league
– Lech Poznań – had a Finn in the team.
Even in tourism, the numbers going both
ways reached record levels.
Finland has always enjoyed a positive image
in Poland, but Poland was never before so
fascinating in the eyes of Finns. We are excited
about what 2026 will bring and welcome you
all to Poland to experience this wonderful
country, culture and people.
The Spondeo team and I would like to thank
our clients, sponsors and network of friends
for supporting our work and for their passion
in promoting Polish-Finnish relationships.
Tuomas Asunmaa
CO-FOUNDER & CEO OF SPONDEO
PS: Massive thanks are due to the core
publication team: Anna, Weronika, Nick
and Valkea Media, plus everyone else
involved in the project!
2022
2023
2024
2025
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 3

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Vigo
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Portowa Zabłocie project by YIT in Kraków
INTRODUCTIONS
TO CHAMBERS
& EMBASSIES
IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
DEFENCE SECTOR
IN POLAND
SUCCESS STORIES,
MARKET ENTRIES
& SUPPORT COMPANIES
NEWS & EVENTS
CULTURE & SPORT
MAPS & RANKINGS
N o 5
Contents
FINNISH
BUSINESS
&CULTURE
in Poland
DISCOVER OVER 50
EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES
AND INTERVIEWS
2026
06 Finnish-Polish News Calendar 2025
08 Events Overview 2025
10 Tomasz Chłoń - Forging the Baltic future: Poland,
Finland, and the power of diplomacy in Helsinki
12 SPCC & FTG - Working together for Finnish-
Polish growth and partnership
13 Finland-Central and Eastern European
Countries Business Association - Northern
ambitions: Why Central Europe is the new
frontier for Finnish business
14 Team Finland at your service
16 Suomen Yrittäjät - Bridging markets: Key
takeaways from the OES benchmarking
trip to Warsaw
17 SECTION 1: IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- DEFENCE SECTOR IN POLAND
18 MSPO - A strong voice for security
19 YIT - YIT brings Finnish expertise in shelter
construction to Poland
20 Jon von Weissenberg - Shared security
priorities bring us closer
21 Dag Nilsson - Tips for market entry to
the Polish defence sector
22 Iceye - Iceye secures major Polish defence
contract and Polish investors in 2025
22 Anna Golińczak, Spondeo - The Polish defence
market: Entry strategies and opportunities
23 SECTION 2: FINNISH BUSINESS SUCCESS
STORIES & NEW COMPANIES
24 Oras - Tapping into the Polish market: Oras
finds its flow in Poland
25 Fazer - Fazer strengthens its position in Poland
26 Tamtron - Consistent growth in Poland
27 Lindström - Building sustainable growth
through Nordic values
28 Koskisen - Koskisen Kore grows with a new
factory in Skwierzyna
29 FSP - FSP’s growth journey in Poland:
A strategic success story
30 Stofix - A Finnish perspective on Poland’s
changing industrial landscape
31 Arska - Finnish Arska Group bets big on Poland’s
bumper harvest
31 Purmo - Launch of a new production line
in Rybnik
32 Nordtreat - Finnish-Polish timber collaboration
setting new fire-safety standards
32 Docue - Trailblazers in legaltech
33 Scanfil - Preparations for further expansion
in Poland
34 LeikkiSet - Raising the bar: A strategic merger
in progress
35 Mekitec - Investing in the Polish food safety
market
35 Raisio - Benecol and Elovena driving Raisio’s
growth in Poland
36 Steady Energy - Nuclear hear for a coal
phase-out
37 Fortum - Growth, decarbonisation and new
investments
38 Merus Power - Electrifying the Polish BESS
market
39 Adven - Entering Poland: Why the energy firm
is betting on its biggest market yet
40 Pinja - From awareness to adoption: Pinja’s
growing role in Poland’s bioenergy transition
41 WeAre - A strong start in Poland: Why WeAre’s
market-entry strategy was acquisition
42 FeelHobby - FeelHobby’s first steps in Poland
43 Flovi - Flovi is building Europe’s fastest-scaling
vehicle logistics platform
44 YIT - YIT in Poland 2025
45 SECTION 3: BUSINESS SUPPORT COMPANIES
IN THE POLISH MARKET
46 Leinonen - The year ahead in the Polish
accounting landscape
47 Ecovis Legal Poland - Trusted local partner
for tens of Finnish investors
48 HT Laser - 15 years of precision and quality
49 Spondeo’s Market Pulse - Labor market
trends by Spondeo’s headhunter Weronika
Gidel-Asunmaa
50 Bilans - Three decades of trust: How to combine
family values with modern accounting
50 Ahopelto Nordic - A strategic move into Poland
51 Rebuild Ukraine - Finnish business in Ukraine:
Steady steps amid challenging times
52 Finnlines - A year of growth, new routes and
forward-looking investments
53 Polar Night Software - Senior expertise shaping
Poland’s IT and nearshoring landscape
53 Thomson Reuters - Navigating KSeF and
beyond: Practical insights for companies
entering the Polish market
54 Tuomas Asunmaa, Spondeo - Trends to follow
in Poland 2026
55 SECTION 4: FINNISH CULTURE & SPORT
IN POLAND
56 Niina Farjaszewska - Santa’s favourite elf
in Poznań
57 Union of Finnish-Polish Associations
- Cooperation is more important than ever
58 Pekka Haavisto - Reflecting on Poland, his
travels, and the enduring threads of solidarity
59 Sand Valley Golf Resort - A year of awards
and recognition
60 Leena Laajo-Szańkowska - Teaching Finnish in
Poland: Reflections on changes since the 1980s
62 Books translated from Finnish to Polish 2025
64 Toni Stenström - Exploring a century
of connections
65 Antti Blåfield and Erja-Outi Heino
- The authors of Puola on samaa maata
66 Sebastian Musielak - The Finnish wave:
How Finnish books are capturing Polish readers
68 Notes from Poland Turns Six - The power
of independent journalism
69 Fleak - Fleak hits the big screen in the spring.
We spoke to the creators
70 Finnish athletes in Polish sports clubs
71 Jussi Nyström - A Finnish coach in Polish
Futsal Ekstraklasa
72 MAPS AND INFOGRAPHICS
72 Map of Finnish production companies in Poland
73 Direct flights from Finland to Poland
73 Map of Finnish IT companies, R&D and service
centers in Poland
74 TOP 10 largest Finnish employers in Poland
74 Map of Finnish service companies and others
in Poland
75 Business culture clash: Polish and Finnish
perspectives
76 TOP 30 Finnish companies in Poland by sales
78 Spondeo: Growth support from Poland.
Meet our team
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 5

FINNISH-POLISH NEWS
C A L E N D A R 2 0 2 5
01 02 03 04 05 06
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
Buglo Play acquired
the Finnish company
LeikkiSet
ICEYE launched four
new satellites
UPM Raflatac and
WWF Poland decided
to continue their
collaboration aimed at
protecting nature for
another three years
ICEYE Gen4
Satellite over
Scandinavia
Source: ICEYE
A new book about
Poland – Puola on
samaa maata – by
Antti Blåfield and
Erja-Outi Heino was
published in Finland
Empik decided to
integrate its supply
chain and retail operations
with the Finnish
company RELEX
Lindström acquired
the Polish company
HTS Rental
Puola on samaa
maata by Antti
Blåfield and
Erja-Outi Heino
Source: Siltala
Publishing
Company
Hillwood
warehouse
Photo by Wojciech
Mateusiak
Annual General
Meeting of Finnish
Trade Guild in Warsaw
TVO Nuclear
Services celebrates
one year of advising
Polskie Elektrownie
Jądrowe on nuclear
power project planning
in Poland
Annual General
Meeting of the
Finnish Section
Source: SPCC
Arnon Poland was
recognized in the
Forbes Diamonds
2025 ranking
Finnlines celebrated
one year of the new
Polish-Swedish route
between Malmö, Sweden
and Świnoujście,
Poland
Fortum signed
a deal to acquire Orange
Energia in Poland
IQM Quantum
Computers decided
to deploy Poland’s
first superconducting
quantum computer at
Wrocław University of
Science and Technology
(WUST) in 2025Q2
Leszek Stankiewicz
was appointed
managing director and
president of YIT Poland
Full-stack
superconducting
quantum computer
IQM Spark
Source
meetiqm.com
Fortum CHP plant
in Częstochowa,
Poland
Photo by Fortum
An interview with
the Polish ambassador
to Finland, Mr. Tomasz
Chłoń, in Helsingin
Sanomat
An interview with
the Polish Minister of
Finance, Mr. Andrzej
Domański, in Helsingin
Sanomat
Digia expanded
to Poland via the
acquisition of
Savangard
ICEYE’s 200 million
euros order from
Poland was featured
in Kauppalehti
National broadcaster
YLE wrote about
Polish-Finnish relations
and about elections
Suomen Yrittäjät
visited Warsaw,
including a meeting
at Nordea
Spondeo CEO,
Tuomas Asunmaa,
on Poland in Savon
Sanomat
The Polish
ambassador
to Finland, Mr.
Tomasz Chłoń, in
Helsingin Sanomat.
Source: hs.fi
Thales moved
Finnish passport
production from
Finland to Poland
ICC Finland
(International Chamber
of Commerce)
published a country
report on Poland
Valmet won a
contract to supply
an IntelliTissue 1,600
tissue machine to
Fabryka Papieru
i Tektury Beskidy
Va-Varuste Poland
joined the Polish
Investment Zone and
planned a factory
expansion
The Finnish
Chamber of Commerce
published
a Poland report
to guide Finnish
exporters. Source:
kauppakamari.fi
LeikkiSet
playground
Photo by Lindström
Photo by HT Laser
MV Finnfellow in
Świnoujście
Photo by Finnlines
Spondeo CEO,
Tuomas Asunmaa,
on Poland in
Savon Sanomat
Source: nakoislehti.
media.fi
Fazer pralines
Photo by Fazer
6 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

CALENDARIUM
07 08 09 10 11 12
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Saxdor Shipyard
received an award at
the Polboat Yachting
Festival in Gdynia
Finnish meat
processor HKFoods
decided to keep its
bacon production unit
in Świnoujście
Ruukki celebrated
the 50th anniversary
of sandwich panel production
at the Oborniki
plant. Ruukki acquired
the plant in 2005
Merus Power secured
its first international
battery energy storage
order – an 8 MW/8
MWh system valued
at 2.5 million euros
– to be delivered to
the Smolnica power
station in northwestern
Poland
Pajtim Statovci’s
novel Bolla became
available in Polish in
2025, translated by
Adam Sandach
SOFTIQ Software
House joined Nordic
Business Forum 2025
as the first Polish
partner
Sylwia Barthel de
Weydenthal, CCO
and Country Director
Poland at IQM Quantum
Computers, was
named on the #50po-
50ForbesWomen list
by Forbes Polska
Tamtron Group
acquired the Polish
company MASA
Toni Stenström’s
new book – Poland
and Finland: A History
of Cooperation (Puola
ja Suomi: Yhteistyön historia)
– was published
and made available in
Finnish bookstores
An interview with
Tuomas Asunmaa,
Spondeo CEO, at
Talouselämä and
Ilta-Sanomat
President of Poland,
Karol Nawrocki, was
hosted by President of
the Republic of Finland
Alexander Stubb at
the Presidential Palace
in Helsinki
Scanfil factory tour
for investors, analysts,
and media in Sieradz
Allegro partnered
with Wolt to expand its
Allegro Smart! offer
Atlas Ward launched
a new company
focused on civil
defence shelters and
partnered with Temet
(a Finnish protective
infrastructure firm)
Biedronka decided
to install around 3,000
TOMRA recyclomats in
Poland by the end of
2025, made locally by
the Finnish company
Scanfil Group at its
Myslowice factory
Finnish Helvar
acquired its Polish
partner HC Center
Fortum announced
an 85 million euros
investment in the
decarbonisation of the
Zabrze plant in Poland
Moje Bambino
acquired a majority
share in the Finnish
company Tevella
The Poznań-based
Minerva raised 3
million dollars from the
Finnish VC OpenOcean
Direct flights from
Warsaw to Rovaniemi
started on 27 November
2025 by LOT Polish
Airlines
Estonia‐Polish
energy storage firm
Skeleton Technologies
celebrated the
opening of a 50 million
euros SuperBattery
factory in Varkaus
KNL and its Polish
partner RADMOR
showcased Cognitive
Networked HF
technology in Poland,
demonstrating reliable,
autonomous HF connections
from Elbląg
to Gdynia and Finland
Santander Bank
Poland chose QPR
Software as its Process
Mining Partner
The Scandinavian
Studies program
at the University of
Gdańsk celebrated its
50th anniversary
WeAre Solutions
acquired the Polish
company Peakforce
Auroora Yhtiöt Oyj
acquired Heatmasters,
which has a production
unit in Będzin
Patria and its Polish
license manufacturer,
Rosomak S.A. extended
the partnership
until 2034
Solwers acquired
a Poznań-based
accounting firm of
Szwak & Spółka
Stora Enso celebrated
28 years with
the Great Orchestra
of Christmas Charity,
producing 230,000 recyclable
money boxes
for the 34th Grand
Finale and bringing the
total to over 4 million
The Vinci fund, part
of the BGK Group, became
a new investor
in ICEYE
Sieradz factory
tour at Scanfil
Photo by Spondeo
Poznań-based
Minerva raised
3 million dollars
from Finnish
VC OpenOcean
Source: Minerva’s
Linkedin profile
KNL presenting
its technology at
the Multinational
Division North
East (MND-NE)
headquarters
in Elbląg
Source: KNL
Sebastian
Musielak at
the Finnish
Independence
Day celebration
Photo by SPCC
Polboat
Yachting Festival
Source:
yachtingfestival.pl
Author meeting
with Toni
Stenström
Source: Toni’s
Linkedin profile
An interview with
Tuomas Asunmaa
at Talouselämä
Source:
talouselama.fi
Photo by Thomson
Reuters
The new direct
flight route
from Warsaw to
Rovaniemi by LOT
Polish Airlines
Recyclable
money boxes
by Stora Enso
Source: Stora Enso
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 7

EVENTS OVERVIEW 2025
JANUARY
Warsaw, Wrocław
New Year’s Kick off Business Mixer
by Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of
Commerce (SPCC).
FEBRUARY
Poznań
BUDMA 2025 - International Construction
and Architecture Fair.
Warsaw
Future Retail Congress.
8th Biomethane Congress in Poznań
Photo by Spondeo
MARCH
Toruń
Biomass Forum - Biomass and Alternative
Fuels Forum in Heating, Energy and Industry.
Warsaw
Polish Climate Congress and the Central
Northern European Climate Summit.
Warsaw
WoodTech Warsaw Expo 2025 - Trade Fair
for Woodworking Technology and Furniture
Production.
Warsaw
VIP meeting with Ministry of Industry
Marzena Czarnecka by SPCC.
APRIL
Warsaw
Business Breakfast at the Embassy
of Finland.
Warsaw
General Assembly of Wood Chamber.
Helsinki
First Finnish-Polish Business Summit: Market
Entry to Poland – How to Access the CEE
Powerhouse? At Business Finland House.
MAY
Poznań
8th Biomethane Congress.
Warsaw
Polish-Nordic Business Summit 2025
by SPCC.
Szczecin
Scandinavian Days 2025 by Szczecin City.
JUNE
Gdańsk
Former Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen
attended a Nordea & Scandinavian-Polish
Chamber of Commerce (SPCC) event.
Warsaw
Finnish Summer Picnic by Finnish Trade
Guild.
Warsaw
Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces.
Poznań
ITM Industry Europe 2025.
Helsinki
Towards Energy Independence in Europe
by ICC Finland, the Finland Chamber
of Commerce (Keskuskauppakamari)
and Business Finland.
Weronika Gidel-Asunmaa (Spondeo) and Paweł
Łączkowski at the VIP meeting with Ministry of Industry
Marzena Czarnecka by SPCC. Photo by Spondeo
Polish Climate Congress and the Central Northern
European Climate Summit. Photo by Spondeo
Business Breakfast at the Embassy
of Finland. Photo by SPCC
Finnish Summer Picnic by FTG
Photo by SPCC
Andrzej Wiśniewski (Spondeo) at the
ITM Industry Fair. Photo by Spondeo
Former Finnish PM Jyrki Katainen in Gdańsk
at Nordea & SPCC event. Photo by Spondeo
Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces
Photo by Spondeo
8 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

CALENDARIUM
Tuomas Asunmaa (Spondeo) at the 33rd International
Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO. Photo by Spondeo
Finnish Independence Day. Photo by SPCC
Nordic Business Forum 2025
Photo by Spondeo
The SPCC Crayfish Celebration
Photo by SPCC
AUGUST
Helsinki
FinnCham organized a CEE business
opportunities seminar.
SEPTEMBER
Kielce
33rd International Defence Industry
Exhibition (MSPO) – Finnish Delegation
(70 people).
Warsaw
Business Finland and the Finnish Embassy
in Poland hosted a defence industry event
in Warsaw.
Poznań
DREMA - International Trade Fair of
Machines, Tools and Components for
the Wood and Furniture Industries.
Helsinki
Nordic Business Forum 2025.
Warsaw, Szczecin, Sopot
The SPCC Crayfish Celebration.
Gdańsk
TRAKO - 16th International Railway Fair.
Sieradz
Scanfil factory tour for investors,
analysts and media.
OCTOBER
Olsztyn
12th Open to Scandinavia conference.
Zakopane
Biomass and Alternative Fuels Forum
in Heating, Energy and Industry.
NOVEMBER
Olsztyn
Conference Security and Innovation:
A Polish-Finnish Networking Platform
by Embassy of Poland in Helsinki.
Helsinki
Event Drones in Civil and Military Use
– Business Opportunities in Central and
Eastern Europe by Finncham, Business
Finland, Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce
and Enterprise Europe Network.
Gdynia
Expert debate featuring Nordic ambassadors
on The Shadow Fleet as a Threat
to Northern European Security, organized
by the Naval Academy in Gdynia and the
Lech Wałęsa Institute.
Stargard
Factory visit at Kalmar by SPCC.
Gdańsk
Nordic Focus Festival by Stowarzyszenie
Inicjatyw Artystycznych JANTAR.
Helsinki
Puolassa on hyvää pöhinää! Event
by FinnCham.
Warsaw
Rebuild Ukraine.
12th Open to Scandinavia
Photo by The Marshal’s Office
of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship
Factory visit at Kalmar
Photo by SPCC
Tuomas Asunmaa
(Spondeo). Photo by KIE
DECEMBER
Kowale
Energy Sector Supports Art – exhibition
opening of Przemysław Garczyński’s works
and networking event – ENSTO / PIMEW /
ENERGETYKA PLUS.
Warsaw
10th Biogas Congress.
Warsaw
Finnish Independence Day.
Drones in Civil and Military Use event
Photo by Finncham
Rebuild Ukraine 2025. Photo by Spondeo
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 9

www.gov.pl/web/suomi
helsinki.amb.info@msz.gov.pl
FORGING THE BALTIC FUTURE:
POLAND, FINLAND, AND THE POWER
OF DIPLOMACY IN HELSINKI
Spondeo met with Tomasz Chłoń
OPPORTUNITIES RARELY APPEAR WITHOUT THE RIGHT PREPARATION AND TIMING, AS
TOMASZ CHŁOŃ, POLAND’S AMBASSADOR TO FINLAND, KNOWS WELL. AN EXPERIENCED
DIPLOMAT WITH POSTINGS IN ESTONIA AND SLOVAKIA, CHŁOŃ NOW REPRESENTS POLAND’S
INTERESTS IN FINLAND AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT FOR THE BALTIC REGION. SERVING AS ACTING
CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES IN HELSINKI WHILE AWAITING AMBASSADORIAL CONFIRMATION,
HE DRAWS ON DECADES OF EXPERIENCE – FROM LEARNING FINNISH AT UNIVERSITY TO
NURTURING BILATERAL TRADE THAT IS NOW APPROACHING 7 BILLION EUROS ANNUALLY.
Weronika Gidel-Asunmaa: Thank you for agreeing
to this interview! It’s a pleasure to meet you
again. I was wondering what convinced you
to take on the role of Chargé d’Affaires in
Helsinki. Was this a location or step you had
always planned, or did the opportunity
arise more suddenly?
In the 1990s, I had my first diplomatic posting
at the Polish Embassy here in Finland. By then,
I had already passed the state exam in Finnish
and my postgraduate thesis focused on Finland’s
accession to the European Union. When the minister
offered me the chance to head the Polish
Embassy in Helsinki, I was pleased – it showed
his confidence that I was the right person for
the role, a belief I shared wholeheartedly.
Since arriving in Finland last year, I have been
reassured that it was the right decision. Was it
planned? As the saying goes, “Man proposes,
God disposes,” but in this case I believe the
outcome turned out exactly as intended.
When we first met at the EastCham meeting
in Helsinki, I was astounded that you spoke such
fluent Finnish! How long did it take you to learn
the language?
During my Hungarian studies at the University
of Warsaw, we had two and a half years of Finnish
language classes. I also attended two wonderful
month-long Finnish summer schools. Then came
an internship at the Polish Embassy in Helsinki
in 1989, followed by six years here as press officer,
among other jobs. That certainly helped my
command of Finnish. My daughters used to speak
Finnish with each other – and sometimes with
me. We would sing together: “Äidin kasvimaalla,
raparperin alla, sammakolla koti oli kultainen.”
You have been Chargé d’Affaires in Helsinki for
about one year now. Has the experience been
what you imagined, or has anything in Finland
particularly surprised you?
I should start with a positive note, but honestly,
the quality of some key public services has been
lower than what I experienced in Poland – at least
from my perspective. That said, I still see Finland
and the Nordic region as overall models to aspire to.
As for the geography of Helsinki, my wife and
TOMASZ CHŁOŃ,
Chargé d’Affaires
in Helsinki
I have become very fond of Kalasatama,
which didn’t exist as a residential area
in the 1990s, but has now become, for us residents
of Kulosaari (where the Embassy is
located), a nearby foodie destination, including
our favourite pub – Harbour.
As the Chargé d’Affaires, you frequently attend
events promoting Polish culture and business
in Finland. From what you’ve seen, how do
Finns perceive Poles these days and how has
that changed?
The opinions I hear about Poland – especially
in the context of what we are doing to help wartorn
Ukraine – are very encouraging. So is the
recognition of Poland as a reliable NATO ally.
Added to this are our – Polish and Finnish –
almost identical assessments of international
security and Russia’s behavior. We share a sense
of community, European identity, and common
values. Our prime ministers and ministers have
close and frequent contact. The new president
of Poland chose Finland as one of his first
destinations after his election.
I am glad to see Finland’s growing interest in
Poland as an economic partner and, increasingly,
as an attractive tourist destination. The number
of Finnish tourists visiting Poland is growing
by close to 10 per cent annually. Finns are,
by nature, curious about the world.
I was also delighted to see several books about
Poland published this year, illustrating a shift
in the Finnish perception of my country. They
used to appear under the title “Poland is different,”
but now they are published as “Poland is
the same.” Pekka Haavisto has written a beautiful
book about his journey to the Białowieża Forest
in Northeastern Poland.
I am very curious about what Finns could learn
from the Polish approach to business and life.
What advice would I give to Finland? I don’t know
if it’s my place to give any. But I have said before:
perhaps a bit more courage in seizing what each
day brings. Over the past decades, Poland has
managed to avoid stagnation – even during financial
crises and the pandemic. Domestic consumption
has become an important driver of growth.
10 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Looking from the perspective of a diplomat
and an expert on the region, what do you see
as the most important strategic pillar of
Polish-Finnish relations? What key areas of
cooperation should dominate our relationship
in the years to come to maximize the new
potential of the Baltic Sea region?
We obviously promote Polish economic interests,
but our system of foreign economic promotion
differs from yours. I don’t want to judge which is
better, but personally I would prefer the diplomatic
service to play a more active role. Above all,
we want to promote Poland as a country at the
forefront of technological progress. For example,
ahead of Slush, we ran a social-media campaign
through which users could learn that:
Poland is a leader in the adoption of AI in
Europe, and the fastest growing market for it;
We have two AI factories – in Poznań
and Kraków, and, together with Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania, are holding talks with the EU
Commission about building a 3 billion euros
AI Baltic Factory;
Polish programmers are ranked third best
globally.
We facilitate contacts and networking between
companies. One example is a seminar – “Security
and Innovation: The Polish-Finnish Cooperation
Platform” – organized by the embassy
in November. The aim is to create a platform for
cooperation and networking between companies
and R&D institutions from Poland and Finland
operating in key strategic sectors, including
the defence industry, quantum technologies,
satellite technologies, and other innovative fields.
Poland has become the world’s 20th largest
economy. Analysts predict that we may overtake
the United Kingdom before long in terms of GDP
per capita. The purchasing power of Poles is starting
to approach the Finnish (wages are still lower,
but so are prices). Our bilateral trade is approaching
7 billion euros. The image of our exports is
no longer limited to “only” tasty, healthy food
or beautiful furniture, but also includes IT services.
Nokia and Nordea both have R&D and service
centers in Poland, employing around 7,000
people each. We buy the same satellites through
the Finnish-Polish company ICEYE. IQM Computers
has installed Poland’s first quantum computer
in Wrocław. Polish research centers cooperate
with LUMI. Poland’s energy sector is developing
through massive investments in nuclear and wind
power. We have launched a program for small
modular reactors. In 10–15 years, our energy mix
should be very similar to Finland’s.
What would you like your legacy in Helsinki
to be – something that will genuinely
strengthen Polish-Finnish relations?
Security is the main strategic aspect of our
relations today: political, economic, and military.
The challenges we face – an aggressive Russia,
climate change, technology – are also an impulse.
We have both reasons and the potential and
resources for the Baltic Sea region to become
even more cohesive, integrated, and strong
– economically and militarily. The economic rise
of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland over recent
decades, along with new infrastructure links,
offers the prospect of an unprecedented historic
success for our region.
Consider that a train journey from Tallinn to
Warsaw (and further to Berlin) will soon be
reduced to just seven hours. This will shed new
light on the feasibility of building the tunnel from
Helsinki to Tallinn. Imagine a hydrogen pipeline
running from Finland through the Baltic States to
Poland and Germany. Let us also consider further
joint ventures in quantum technologies, artificial
intelligence, satellite programs, and defence
industries. So, I would put it this way: in Polish-Finnish
cooperation – and more broadly,
throughout our region – not even the sky is
the limit. If, during my current posting in Finland,
through the collective effort of the entire
embassy – we manage to take a couple more
steps towards this vision becoming reality,
I will consider my mission fulfilled.
There is one more thing: I would like to see,
somewhere in Helsinki, a commemorative
stone of the bonds of solidarity between Poland
and Finland. From Mannerheim to Solidarity,
from mutual support in the struggles for national
freedom to the help that Finns extended to Poles
in the 1980s – support from members of the
Finland–Poland Associations.
Tell me your favorite Finnish dish, joke, music,
and feature of the Finns and Finland?
This might sound a bit quirky (ha, ha), but just after
arriving in Helsinki a year ago, my first grocery shop
included “karjalanpiirakat” at the top of the list. For
thirty years after leaving Finland, we regularly prepared
baked Rosamundas with sour cream, caviar,
and finely chopped red onion – a recipe I think
I picked up at Kappeli on the Esplanadi. I always
get a certain feeling when I hear Finlandia or
Karelia by Sibelius. My favourite entry in this year’s
Eurovision was, of course, “Yksi, kaksi, kolme, sauna.”
How could it be otherwise? And what I truly admire
in Finns is the unique blend of national pride
in your remarkable achievements and a self-critical
approach toward the challenges you face – combined
with a Finnish determination to address
those challenges at their root, something that often
goes unnoticed in many other parts of the world.
Tomasz Chłoń
with his wife
Photo: private
collection
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 11

www.spcc.pl
SPCC AND FTG
WORKING TOGETHER FOR FINNISH-
POLISH GROWTH AND PARTNERSHIP
WITH 65 CORPORATE MEMBERS, THE FINNISH TRADE GUILD (FTG) IS AN INTEGRAL PART
OF THE SCANDINAVIAN-POLISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – A BUSINESS ASSOCIATION CREATED
TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLISH-NORDIC ECONOMIC RELATIONS. AS ONE OF
THE FOUR NATIONAL SECTIONS OF THE SPCC, THE FINNISH TRADE GUILD (FTG) IS THE GO-TO
HUB FOR FINNISH BUSINESSES OPERATING IN POLAND. FTG REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS
OF OUR MEMBERS, FACILITATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR GROWTH THROUGH NETWORKING, CULTURAL EVENTS, AND BUSINESS SUPPORT
– ENHANCING THE VALUE OF SPCC MEMBERSHIP.
The FTG’s calendar of activities features signature
events such as the Finnish Summer Picnic
in June, the Crayfish (Rapujuhlat) Party in September,
and the Finnish Independence Day celebrations
in December. Complementing these are
business breakfasts and forums that tackle key
economic topics. In 2025, the SPCC & the FTG
also proudly participated in the Polish-Finnish
Business Summit in Helsinki, organized by
Business Finland – highlighting commitment
to fostering cross-border business collaboration.
For more than 20 years, the SPCC has been
supporting the development of economic relations
between Poland, Scandinavia, and the Baltic
States. As Poland’s third-largest international
chamber, the SPCC unites 400+ members across
crucial economic sectors, creating a vibrant
network of opportunity.
Working closely with the Embassies of the Nordic
countries, the SPCC is jointly supporting investors
and working to develop strong Polish-Scandinavian
business relations. Membership in the SPCC
opens the door to knowledge, high-impact events,
and lasting relationships – the corner-stone of
Scandinavian business culture.
H.E. Ambassador Päivi Laine, Finnish Independence
Day celebration 2025. Photo by SPCC
65
MEMBERS
Representatives
of major Finnish
businesses & SMEs
405
MEMBERS
In total
BOARD
OF THE FINNISH
TRADE GUILD 2025
Esko Kilpinen
(Valkea), Chairman,
SPCC Vice-Chairman
Maria
Onikki-Górski
(Leinonen),
Vice-Chairman,
SPCC Board
Member
Agnieszka
Dzięgielewska
-Jończyk (Nordea),
SPCC Deputy
Board Member,
FTG Board Member
Tuomas Asunmaa
(Spondeo), FTG
Board Member
Marcin Bruszewski
(Fortum), FTG
Board Member
Markku Ekholm
(Suomen Unipol),
FTG Board Member
Izabela Świtek
(ISKU), FTG
Board Member
Antti Rahikka -
Business Finland
representative
Annual General Meeting of the Finnish Section
Photo by SPCC
Finnish Summer Picnic
Photo by SPCC
Crayfish party
Photo by SPCC
12 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.kauppayhdistys.fi
www.linkedin.com/company/finncham
NORTHERN AMBITIONS:
WHY CENTRAL EUROPE IS THE NEW
FRONTIER FOR FINNISH BUSINESS
PROOF IN PRACTICE:
KEY EVENTS OF 2025
The Association’s recent events
show exactly where the strongest
opportunities lie:
Damon Olloman (ICEYE), Päivi
Pohjanheimo (Finland Chamber
of Commerce), Tuomas Asunmaa
(Spondeo), Mikko Hyppönen
(Sensofusion). Photo by KIE
DRONES IN CIVIL AND MILITARY USE
(25 NOVEMBER 2025):
The event on civil and military drone
use, attended by four ambassadors,
highlighted the region’s growing investments
in security and defence.
Puolassa on hyvää pöhinää!
Photo by Spondeo
POLAND’S MOMENTUM
(13 NOVEMBER 2025):
The session “Puolassa on hyvää
pöhinää!” (“There’s a good buzz in Poland!”)
showcased the energy of the region’s
largest economy. With Poland’s
ambassador and top business leaders
participating, it became clear that
Finnish expertise is actively being encouraged
in areas like energy transition,
logistics, and digital services.
Europe’s economic landscape is changing fast,
and for Finnish companies the most exciting
growth story is no longer found only in the West.
It is taking shape across Central and Eastern
Europe. For years, Finnish trade focused
on familiar markets, but today the rising
capability and strategic importance of CEE
– from Poland’s industrial strength to Romania’s
talent and Ukraine’s rebuilding – are creating
opportunities that forward-looking
companies cannot afford to miss.
The Finland Central and Eastern European
Countries Business Association (Finland-KIE
Business Association) is a key link in this shift.
It is a practical gateway to ten high-potential
markets, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Hungary, Slovakia, and more. Its mission is straightforward:
turn Finnish expertise into real business
opportunities in CEE.
Finnish business leaders now see CEE as far more
than a low-cost production region. It’s an area
undergoing major infrastructure upgrades, rapid
digital development, and significant investment
in defence and security. This aligns perfectly with
Finnish strengths: green tech, advanced
machinery, secure IT solutions, and highquality
industrial components.
As the Association’s Chair, Juha Ylitalo, says,
the goal is simple: help companies connect
and succeed. “Whether you are a business professional
or a company looking to expand your international
network, the Finland Central and Eastern
European Countries Business Association offers
the connections, information and events to help
your business thrive.” In short, it’s about getting
Finnish companies into the right discussions
with the right people.
Broader Market Overview (20 August 2025)
Photo by KIE
BROADER MARKET OVERVIEW
(20 AUGUST 2025):
An event with seven CEE ambassadors
and experienced business executives
offered a broad look at market opportunities
across the region.
Energy Independence in Europe.
Igor Petryk (Wärtsilä Energy)
Photo by KIE
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IN EUROPE
(12 JUNE 2025):
The event on civil and military drone
use, An energy sector event with ambassadorial
presentations and keynote
speaker Mr. Igor Petryk from Wärtsilä.
MORNING COFFEE MEETING
(22 APRIL 2025):
Morning coffee with Mr Matti Nissinen,
the Finnish ambassador to Kosovo, H.E.
Shkëndije Geci Sherifi, the Kosovan
ambassador to Finland and Ms Florenda
Govori, CEO of the Nordic Chamber
of Commerce.
The Finland-KIE Business Association acts as a catalyst helping companies move from general interest to specific
action in markets that are close to Finland both geographically and in mindset. The CEE region is quickly becoming one
of Europe’s most dynamic economic engines, and for Finnish companies focused on international growth, this connection
is turning into essential infrastructure.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 13

www.team-finland.fi/en
TEAM FINLAND
AT YOUR SERVICE!
“Dynamic” is a key word describing the business
environment in Poland. The Polish economy is experiencing
rapid growth, a still high-paced surge
in wage levels and low unemployment. Ongoing
public investments such as Port Polska (formerly
CPK – Central Communication Port), together with
high demand for defence know how and equipment,
both in terms of military and civil protection,
are signs of great interest in new initiatives and
creates space for various products and services
to enter the chain value.
The Team Finland concept was introduced by
the then Minister for foreign trade, Alexander
Stubb, to support companies’ internationalization
on various markets. Team Finland does this by
strengthening competitiveness and combining
the expertise of multiple Finnish government
actors to facilitate market entry. A special service
path guides companies looking for contacts and
support in their plans for expansion. The services
are provided depending on the actual stage of
Internationalization.
Team Finland’s mission in Poland is to assess the
business environment, understand its logic and
ways of working. With that knowledge, we provide
insight and support to establish a Finnish presence
on the Polish market and help at later
stages of business development.
The beginning of 2026 marks the significant
change within the organizational structure as
Business Finland’s foreign functions will be
integrated into the embassies. This will enable
even closer cooperation and more harmonized
actions without affecting the key aspects of our
work, though naturally the aim is to improve over
time. Team Finland in Poland remains the same
group of professionals dedicated to their mission
of supporting companies entering to or operating
in Poland.
2025 AT GLANCE
The year 2025 was an intense time
for Team Finland in Poland with many
projects and activities.
One of the core initiatives undertaken was organizing
the first Finnish-Polish Business Summit
concentrating on market entry to Poland. It was
targeted mainly towards companies planning or
considering expansion to the Polish market. With
great experts and very good space for exchanging
knowledge and experience, the event brought
Polish Business
Summit “Market
Entry to Poland
How to Access this
CEE Powerhouse”,
10 April 2025
Photo by Team
Finland
a lot of added value and was honored by both the
Ambassador of Finland Päivi Laine and the Head
of Mission in Helsinki, Tomasz Chłoń.
Comprehensive security was a big theme
throughout the year. Team Finland strived to
promote solutions and technologies that would
address both the issues of possessing defence
capacity as well as placing a high emphasis on
civil protection.
That is why, in September, a group of Finnish
defence sector companies were invited to attend
the large defence MSPO expo in Kielce. They
were able to learn about the specifics of Poland’s
defence industry.
In October, perhaps the most significant event
took place: the Embassy, together with Fire
Academy and with support of both the Polish
and Finnish ministries of interior, organized an
international conference called “Civil Protection
and Civil Defence in Finland and Poland 2025”.
14 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

The conference provided Polish local authorities
with a unique opportunity to gain first-hand
insights into Finland’s advanced civil defence
strategies, including cutting-edge technologies
for building and maintaining shelters. By sharing
best practices and innovative solutions, the event
laid the groundwork for future collaboration and
enhanced preparedness in both countries.
TEAM FINLAND
IN POLAND
IS OPEN TO
ALL FORMS OF
COLLABORATION.
AS THE CORE
MOTTO OF
MOOMINHOUSE
STATES: ”THE
DOOR IS ALWAYS
OPEN!
”
Country branding actions were also aimed
at promoting other aspects of Finnish culture.
The Embassy gave honorary patronage to
two concerts of Jean Sibelius’s music.
Culture plays an important role in branding
Finland and 2025 saw the 80th anniversary since
publishing the first story about Moomins. To celebrate
that milestone and highlight Finnish values
and philosophy deeply rooted in literature of Tove
Jansson, the Embassy’s fence was transformed
into a unique Moomin display featuring captivating
illustrations and thought-provoking quotes
from the books.
Throughout the year there were many small
initiatives to remind the Polish people about these
white trolls. A big thank you to the Moomin Characters
for their outstanding work!
The upcoming 2026 seems to be no different.
Already in January there is a planned visit
by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development,
Ville Tavio, and by some Finnish companies.
The visit is aimed at providing valuable market
insights and helping the companies take the first
steps to start operating in Poland. Many other
projects and initiatives are yet to come and Team
Finland in Poland is open to all forms of collaboration.
As the core motto of Moominhouse states:”
The door is always open!”
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 15

www.yrittajat.fi
SUOMEN YRITTÄJÄT
BRIDGING MARKETS: KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM
THE OES BENCHMARKING TRIP TO WARSAW
In May 2025, Suomen Yrittäjät (the Federation of Finnish
Enterprises) and Entrepreneurs of Northern Ostrobothnia,
arranged for the twelfth cohort of the OES Influencer
Network to visit Warsaw for its annual benchmarking trip.
Made up of nearly 30 decision-makers, influencers, and
entrepreneurs, the delegation sought to deepen their understanding
of the Polish market and its societal significance.
Warsaw was selected as the destination, given Poland’s status
as one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU, noted
for its recent successes in innovation, infrastructure, and the
utilization of EU funding. Furthermore, Poland’s geopolitical
role has become increasingly central to European security
following the war in Ukraine.
The program provided a comprehensive overview of the
business landscape, facilitated by visits to the Embassy of
Finland and Business Finland for high-level political
and economic insights. The delegation also engaged with key
experts from the Ministry of Finance, Confederation Lewiatan,
and the Casimir Pulaski Foundation. A particular highlight
was a visit to Nordea’s Warsaw office, which offered
a deep dive into the banking sector and the current political
climate, presented by a journalist from the Notes from Poland
media outlet.
Reflecting on the opportunities available, Suomen Yrittäjät
CEO Mikael Pentikäinen stated: “Poland’s economy has strong
MIKAEL PENTIKÄINEN,
CEO of Suomen Yrittäjät. Photo by Tuomas Asunmaa
momentum. It is a large and attractive market for Finnish
SMEs. Finland also has much to learn from how Poland
builds growth and manages employment.”
The visit highlighted the agility of Polish actors in defence,
urban development, and the digitalization of services.
The consensus from the trip was clear: Poland is a nearby,
sizeable market that offers significant opportunities for
Finnish companies willing to explore it.
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SECTION 1
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- DEFENCE SECTOR
IN POLAND
Europe’s evolving security environment
has made defence cooperation
a shared priority for Finland and
Poland. As NATO allies on the northern
and eastern flanks, both countries face
similar geopolitical realities and are
investing in stronger capabilities and
technological innovation. This year’s
edition highlights key defence events,
an interview with the Finnish Defence
Attaché in Warsaw, the achievements
of ICEYE and YIT, and insights from
a law firm advising the defence sector.
MSPO 2025, 33rd International Defence Industry
Exhibition. Photo by Targi Kielce
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 17

SECTION 1
www.targikielce.pl/en/mspo
33RD INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY EXHIBITION
MSPO 2025:
A STRONG VOICE FOR SECURITY
ONE OF EUROPE’S LEADING DEFENCE EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS POLAND’S GROWING STRATEGIC ROLE
The 33rd International Defence Industry Exhibition
in Kielce once again confirmed its position as one
of Europe’s top three defence trade shows. MSPO
2025 brought together an exceptional international
audience, showcasing the scale and ambition
of Poland’s defence sector at a time of heightened
global focus on security. Nearly 40,000
square meters of exhibition space hosted companies
from around the world, while the event drew
170 delegations from 42 countries, including 26
ambassadors, underlining its diplomatic and
strategic importance. Several Finnish companies
participated as exhibitors, including Patria, Miilux,
Iceye and Nokia. Business Finland, together
with the Defence Attache Jon von Weissenberg,
hosted a Finnish delegation of around 70 defence
sector professionals from over 40 companies.
The high-level political attendance reflected
the weight of the exhibition. Held under the
honorary patronage of President Karol Nawrocki,
MSPO was officially opened by the Minister
of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz,
followed by a visit from Prime Minister Donald
Tusk. Government representatives toured national
pavilions and participated in the signing of key
procurement agreements, emphasising the importance
of strengthening domestic industry
and ensuring effective cooperation between
state institutions and defence companies.
This year’s MSPO was marked by an unprecedented
number of formal decisions. Forty-three
contracts and agreements were concluded during
the fair, including multibillion-złoty procurements
for radar systems, small arms, training torpedoes,
specialized containers for F-35 aircraft, and precision-guided
munitions. The pace of announcements
strengthened the perception of MSPO
ONE OF THE TOP
THREE DEFENCE
SHOWS IN EUROPE
39,000
VISITORS
40,000m²
EXHIBITION AREA
811
COMPANIES
35
COUNTRIES
47%
FOREIGN EXHIBITORS
as a strategic hub where priorities for Poland’s
defence modernisation are set.
Innovation also played a central role. Panels
and conferences focused on AI, cybersecurity,
robotics and emerging technologies, while
research institutions showcased partnerships
bridging science and the armed forces.
A notable Polish-Finnish highlight emerged
during the awards gala: the President of Poland
presented a prize to ICEYE Polska for its synthetic
aperture radar microsatellites - recognized
for enhancing the safety and situational
awareness of Polish soldiers.
A representative from Spondeo – Tuomas Asunmaa
– attended the fair, engaging in meetings
and discussions across the exhibition. With a new
15,500 m² hall opening for MSPO 2026, Kielce is
preparing to host an even more advanced edition.
The next major security-focused event will be
POLSECURE, held on 21-23 April 2026.
18 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Sponsored article
www.yit.pl
YIT
YIT BRINGS FINNISH EXPERTISE IN
SHELTER CONSTRUCTION TO POLAND
AS GEOPOLITICAL DYNAMICS SHIFT AND SAFETY BECOMES A TOP PRIORITY IN URBAN PLANNING, YIT,
THE LARGEST FINNISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, IS EXPANDING ITS OFFERING IN POLAND TO INCLUDE
THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF CIVIL DEFENCE SHELTERS. LEVERAGING DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
FROM FINLAND – A GLOBAL LEADER IN CIVIL PROTECTION – YIT AIMS TO SET A NEW BENCHMARK FOR
SECURITY WITHIN POLISH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
Finland is one of the few countries in the world
capable of providing shelter protection for nearly
its entire population. With more than 50,000
shelters accommodating approximately 4.8 million
people, the Finnish system stands as a model
of comprehensive preparedness. YIT has played
a central role in shaping this infrastructure, having
delivered hundreds of shelter projects, ranging
from S1-class residential shelters to large-scale
underground facilities, including the Keilaniemi
rock cavern shelter, capable of protecting over
4,000 people.
Recognizing the growing demand for advanced
safety infrastructure in Poland – driven by largescale
governmental investment plans aimed at
strengthening national and urban security – YIT is
now bringing this specialized Nordic expertise to
the Polish market. Building on decades of international
experience, the company offers proven
capabilities not only in the design and construction
of protective shelters, but also in the delivery
of highly complex, mission-critical facilities such
as data centers, where reliability, resilience, and
technical precision are paramount.
An important milestone in this expansion was
the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement
with Verona Shelters, a specialized partner in
advanced shelter systems and safety technologies.
This partnership combines YIT’s extensive
construction and project delivery expertise with
Verona Shelters’ dedicated know-how in protective
infrastructure, enabling the development of
comprehensive, scalable, and regulation-compliant
shelter solutions tailored to the needs of the
Polish market.
The expansion into the shelter sector aligns with
YIT Poland’s strategic objectives for 2025, implemented
under the leadership of newly appointed
CEO Leszek Stankiewicz. His deep industry
knowledge, operational focus, and clear strategic
vision are strengthening YIT’s position as a trusted
partner for both public and private investors
in Poland, while supporting the company’s
long-term growth ambitions.
A key enabler of this strategy was the establishment
of YIT Construction in 2025, a dedicated
General Contractor that significantly enhances
YIT’s in-house delivery capabilities. YIT Construction
is already executing its first projects for YIT
Signing of
a strategic
cooperation
agreement with
Verona Shelters
Poland, providing full control over quality, safety,
and scheduling, and enabling the successful
delivery of technically demanding investments
across multiple sectors.
By introducing shelter construction services in
Poland, YIT is not only responding to immediate
market needs but also actively contributing to
the broader discussion on the evolution of civil
defence standards and regulations. By delivering
shelters that are durable, functional, and
seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric, YIT
supports Polish cities in becoming more resilient
to both conventional risks and the complex,
unpredictable challenges of the 21st century.
This initiative aligns closely with YIT’s broader
commitment to ESG principles and sustainable
urban development.
“We are bringing a culture of readiness, backed
by a proven Nordic system that treats safety as
a fundamental human right,” the company emphasizes
through its new service portal.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 19

SECTION 1
www.finlandabroad.fi
SHARED SECURITY
PRIORITIES BRING US CLOSER
An interview with Navy Captain Jon von Weissenberg,
Defence, Military, Naval and Air Attaché at the Embassy of Finland in Warsaw
AS FINLAND SETTLES INTO ITS NATO MEMBERSHIP AND POLAND ADVANCES ONE OF EUROPE’S
MOST AMBITIOUS DEFENCE MODERNIZATION PROGRAMS, COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO
COUNTRIES HAS TAKEN ON A NEW DEPTH. FEW OBSERVE THIS DYNAMIC AS CLOSELY AS CAPTAIN
(N) JON VON WEISSENBERG, THE DEFENCE ATTACHÉ AT THE EMBASSY OF FINLAND IN WARSAW.
WITH A NAVAL BACKGROUND, EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN PROCUREMENT, AND NOW A POSTING
FAR FROM THE SEA, HIS PERSPECTIVE OFFERS A GROUNDED VIEW OF HOW THE FINNISH–POLISH
DEFENCE RELATIONSHIP IS EVOLVING TO NURTURING BILATERAL TRADE THAT IS NOW
APPROACHING 7 BILLION EUROS ANNUALLY.
This is now your third year in Poland.
How did a navy man end up stationed
so far from the sea?
This year is indeed my third year here. My professional
background is in the navy – in particular
in procurement and major naval acquisitions
– but I have also spent years at sea as a commanding
officer and as an instructor at the Finnish
Naval Academy and National Defence University.
This is my first foreign posting, and my family
and I have truly enjoyed our time in Poland.
They say a sailor should not eat fish in an inland
city, but that old wisdom has proven wrong.
The food scene in Poland has been excellent
and Warsaw offers some of the best fish dishes
I have had outside Finland.
You must be well connected locally by now?
Yes, over time those networks naturally build
up. My duties involve close contact with Polish
counterparts in the Ministry of National Defence
and the Armed Forces, as well as with fellow defence
attachés from many countries. I also work
closely with colleagues from the other Nordic
nations, as we share many priorities and often
cooperate on events and visits.
Since the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022,
engagement with Finnish defence industry
companies has become an even larger part of our
daily work. We are in regular contact with firms
exploring opportunities in Poland, helping them
connect with the right institutions and events.
The momentum is clearly growing.
CAPTAIN (N)
JON VON
WEISSENBERG,
The Defence
Attaché
at the Embassy
of Finland
in Warsaw
Have you seen areas where Poland looks
to Finland for expertise?
Comprehensive security is the major topic. It can
also be called “Total Defence,” but in Finland we
use the term “Comprehensive Security,” which includes
all situations that might challenge society
– from military crises to cyberattacks, pandemics
or energy disruptions. It means protecting
civilians, ensuring preparedness, and maintaining
societal resilience. In Finland, the Defence Forces
are responsible for only two of the 57 strategic
tasks in our security framework – the rest are
divided between the civil sectors. This broad
approach has attracted interest from many countries,
including Poland, which is developing similar
resilience mechanisms. There is also great curiosity
about our reserve system – in wartime we can
field a force of about 270,000 soldiers while keeping
society running almost normally.
And the other way around – what can Finland
learn from Poland?
Poland’s expertise in border security clearly
stands out. The scale and complexity of its border
management – especially since the Belarusian
hybrid operations – has provided valuable
experience for Europe as a whole.
Moreover, Poland’s rapid defence modernization
has made it a key point of reference. We receive
weekly inquiries from Finnish companies interested
in the Polish market, and we support them
by facilitating contacts and participation in major
events such as MSPO or the specialized
engineering and logistics fairs. The cooperation
is very practical and mutually beneficial.
Has the level of interest changed during
your posting?
Absolutely. During the past two years, Poland’s role
has become increasingly important. It is now one
of the major defence actors in Europe, and we
often refer to it as the “gatekeeper of Central Europe.”
The growth of the MSPO exhibition in Kielce
illustrates this evolution perfectly – it attracts
20 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Sponsored article
www.bsjp.pl
more international companies every year and
serves as a central meeting point for defence
professionals. The war in Ukraine has, of course,
accelerated this development, but it also reflects
Poland’s determination to strengthen its defence
industry. Finnish companies, too, have great potential
here, and I can warmly recommend MSPO
and the specialized sectoral events for those
looking to engage in this market.
What would you like to see in the future?
First and foremost, I hope the war in Ukraine
will come to a just and lasting end – Russia
must stop its aggression. Beyond that, Europe
must continue preparing for potential future
threats. That means increasing readiness,
building up forces, and ensuring sufficient
equipment and ammunition stocks.
Poland has been a leading example
in building up its defence posture rapidly.
In Finland, we have maintained a high level
of preparedness for decades, so our current
investments are more incremental. But our
defence industry has excellent capabilities
and strong potential in the Central European
market. Poland, Nordics and the Baltics
are natural partners in ensuring security
and stability in Northern and Central Europe.
Are other Nordic countries more active
internationally?
Some are, yes. Denmark, for instance, invests
heavily in supporting its defence exports and has
taken an active role in assisting Ukraine. Sweden,
too, has recently achieved significant successes,
such as the submarine deal with Poland. We all
operate slightly differently, but we share the same
goal – to strengthen European and transatlantic
security through cooperation and credible
defence capabilities.
Is there anything distinctive about the Polish
defence sector?
The structure of the Polish defence industry is indeed
unique. The Polish Armaments Group (PGZ)
holds a dominant position domestically and plays
a key role in most major programs. For foreign
companies, PGZ often serves as the primary
entry point to the market. There are also privately
owned companies, such as WB Group, that can
serve as partners to enter the Polish market.
Understanding this dynamic is essential
for successful sales operations.
Do you sense that Polish decision-makers
appreciate Finnish cooperation?
Very much so. There is clear mutual respect
and understanding between our countries.
Both Finland and Poland share a similar strategic
culture – shaped by geography and by a long
history of living next to a difficult neighbor.
That common experience builds trust.
I believe our cooperation will only deepen from
here – through joint projects, industrial partnerships,
and shared efforts within NATO. The foundations
are strong, and the will to work together
is evident on both sides.
BSJP | bnt
DAG NILSSON’S TIPS FOR
MARKET ENTRY TO THE
POLISH DEFENCE SECTOR
BSJP | bnt is one of Poland’s leading law firms with offices in
Warsaw, Gdańsk, Katowice, and Poznań, counting over 80 lawyers.
Recognized by Chambers and Legal 500, it is a trusted partner
for Nordic businesses active on the Polish market, offering strategic
guidance in complex sectors like defence. We spoke with partner
Dag Nilsson.
You have been dealing with military contracts
in Poland, worth billions. What does it require
from a Nordic company to sell in Poland?
It demands compliance with the legal norms
(licenses, export control and security clearances)
as well as local engagement. In addition, you
need to keep in mind that the level of formality
in procurement processes is much higher,
the Polish language still predominates, and that
negotiations and internal mechanisms follow
the local norms and conventions. Therefore,
it is strongly recommended to have local
partners and advisors.
How would you describe the Polish defence
sector stakeholder map?
The key player is the Armament Agency, which
is tasked with procuring systems and materials
for the Polish Armed Forces. As for providers,
the sector is dominated by Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa
(PGZ), a state-owned holding with over
50 subsidiaries. PGZ acts as the primary integrator
for many domestic programs and a gatekeeper
for foreign suppliers. Other players include private
innovators and lots of newcomers, especially
in the UAV and dual use sector.
Poland is a market with sometimes brutal
competition, is that true also in defence?
Absolutely. The Polish defence market is highly
competitive and politically sensitive. In public
procurements with competitive bids, it is the norm
for competitors to undermine each other, as well
as to dispute the decisions and awards of the
Armament Agency. In single-source tenders, U.S.
firms dominate high-end systems, with Korean
companies gaining ground through tech-transfer
deals, and domestic champions expanding
aggressively. Price matters, but strategic alliances
and political considerations often tip the scales,
as was the case with the selection of Sweden
as the partner for the next generation submarines.
Your background is Swedish-Polish,
with Finnish clients?
Yes, as a Polish attorney-at-law with Swedish
heritage, over the last twenty years I have focused
on serving the interests of Nordic companies in
Poland, including many Finnish listed and private
companies. Seeing how the trade and relationships
between Poland and the Nordics have increased
and aligned in the last years, and being a small part
of this development, has been very rewarding.
DAG NILSSON,
Partner
at BSJP | bnt
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 21

SECTION 1
www.iceye.com
ICEYE
ICEYE SECURES A MAJOR POLISH DEFENCE
CONTRACT AND POLISH INVESTORS IN 2025
Polish-Finnish unicorn company ICEYE, the global leader
in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite technology,
has significantly cemented its market position through
a major contract with the Polish government and a substantial
investment from the Polish state development bank.
In May, ICEYE signed a landmark agreement with the Polish
Ministry of National Defence. This deal, worth approximately
200 million euros, will supply the Polish Armed Forces with
three ICEYE SAR satellites, with an option for three more.
The Polish Deputy Prime Minister hailed the acquisition,
stating it grants Poland, “full independence in radar
reconnaissance and imaging,” while ICEYE’s CEO, Rafał
Modrzewski, highlighted the system’s engineered capability
to enable data sharing and cross-tasking with European
allies, thereby strengthening collective space defence.
In August, the company secured a financial boost when
the Vinci Fund, part of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK),
Poland’s state development bank, invested over 40 million
zlotys in the company.
Then, in December, ICEYE secured 150 million euros in new
funding, and the strong pan-European participation again
included Vinci (BGK Group), along with RiO Family Office
(InPost founder Rafal Brzoska) from Poland. Rafał
Modrzejewski, co-founder of ICEYE, said: “ICEYE’s SAR
technology has become one of the key strategic and
SAR Satellite Imagery - Helsinki. Source ICEYE
operational tools for governments and institutions around
the world. Our team has repeatedly proven that we can turn
advanced SAR technology into concrete results for customers
who need answers in minutes, not days.”
www.spondeo.pl anna.golinczak@spondeo.fi
THE POLISH DEFENCE MARKET:
ENTRY STRATEGIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Poland is an increasingly desirable export
destination for Finland, defence included. Due
to geopolitical factors, the Polish government’s
defence policy shifts towards the Baltic & Nordic
countries. Poland spent 4.48% of its GDP on
defence in 2025, which puts it top among NATO
countries. The planned budget for 2026 shows
defence spending at 4.8% of GDP (EUR 47 billion).
Anna Golińczak, Spondeo’s Senior Sales Advisor,
provides some hints for the market entry:
First, Polish industry involvement. Experience
shows, including the recent contract with SAAB
in the Orka program (three new submarines),
that a key factor, apart from price and delivery
time, is the proposed offset – a guarantee of
Polish industry participation. Consider partnerships
with the largest Polish defence companies,
such as PGZ.
Despite large defence spending, Poland’s
proportion of spending on innovation & the
creation of its own domestic technologies is
significantly worse. ICEYE is a good example
of the effective combination of Finnish and
Polish expertise, with the support of the
Polish government.
ANNA
GOLIŃCZAK,
Senior Sales
Advisor
at Spondeo
Local presence on the Polish
market in the form of Polish
branches with Polish employees
is a good practice.
The Polish language is crucial
in tenders and an excellent knowledge
of Polish Public Procurement
Law is vital (tender differences
& requirements and exemptions
for Significant Interest to State
Security).
A license from the MoI&A is
required and in “confidential”
proceedings an appropriate office to handle such
information is must-have, as well as obtaining
security clearance preceded by
the detailed verification.
Finally, you need a good understanding of
the decision-making map and the cultural
differences between Finland and Poland.
Among the more important events, consider
participating in MSPO – the largest military trade
fair in Poland, as well as BALTEXPO and the Polish
Defence Industry Forum.
22 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

SECTION 2
FINNISH BUSINESS
SUCCESS STORIES
& NEW COMPANIES
This section features success stories
of Finnish companies that have thrived
in Poland for decades, along with
news articles covering recent market
entries or other significant investments
in the Polish market. While every case
is unique, in all of these stories there
are valuable lessons that can prove
useful in your own business endeavors.
Take a look at the experiences of other
Finnish companies and learn what
you can put into practice yourself.
Photo HT Laser
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 23

SECTION 2
www.oras.com
ORAS
TAPPING INTO THE POLISH MARKET:
ORAS FINDS ITS FLOW IN POLAND
ORAS HAS BEEN SPECIALIZING IN HIGH-QUALITY BATHROOM AND KITCHEN FAUCETS SINCE 1945,
BECOMING WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR USER-FRIENDLY, WATER- AND ENERGY-SAVING TECHNICAL
SOLUTIONS. THE COMPANY HAS A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL HISTORY IN POLAND, AS THE POLISH
PLANT DIRECTOR ARKADIUSZ BUJOCZEK EXPLAINED TO WERONIKA GIDEL-ASUNMAA.
Oras is one of the oldest Finnish production
investments in Poland. What is the early history
of Oras in Poland and when did you join?
Oras’s presence in Poland started with a clear
strategy in 1996. The Group began by acquiring
a state-owned factory called Standard Armatura
in Olesno – at the time, one of only two producers
of sanitary fittings in post-communist Poland.
I’ve even seen the old VHS footage from that first
visit; the transformation is incredible. By 1997,
the Olesno site had officially become Oras.
I came on board five years ago. My background
isn’t directly in sanitaryware; I’m a mechanical
engineer by training, with a strong foundation
in manufacturing and, most importantly,
in leadership and organization. I was actually
connected to Oras through a personal experience.
Two decades ago, when equipping my first
apartment in Gdynia, I really wanted an Oras
thermostat. It was a premium purchase, but that
original faucet worked perfectly for 19 years
without ever breaking. That commitment
to quality is what I see and ensure every day
here in Olesno.
How important is the Polish market and
the whole CEE region for the Oras Group?
Absolutely central to the future plans of the
Oras Group. We are one of the two main production
sites for the entire Group, employing over
500 people – a significant industrial base. By size
and population, Poland, with 37 million people,
is our third most important market after Nordics
and the German-speaking countries. We are
getting ready for a major expansion here.
Our presence is increasing. While we aim to be
the top choice for professionals – meaning our
core business is B2B, serving large construction
and public projects – we are heavily focused
on new ways to reach customers.
In a surprising turn, Poland’s shift toward
the consumer, which came from the retail boom
after communism, has put us ahead of the trend
compared to more traditional markets like
Germany, which are only now seeing
the same consumer shift. We place our
brands at the premium level.
The market is shifting toward water and
energy-saving solutions. How do customer
expectations in Poland compare to those
in the Nordics?
The push for water and energy efficiency
is a worldwide demand, and Polish expectations
ARKADIUSZ
BUJOCZEK,
Plant Director
at Oras
ORAS factory
in Olesno,
Poland
are quickly aligning, especially in the institutional
sector. For large organizations, offering truly
sustainable, water-saving products is a key
factor in securing sales.
We see high demand for non-contact systems,
which are no longer just for public facilities,
but are becoming stylish features in homes
and businesses. Beyond sophisticated tech like
Bluetooth-controlled public faucets, we see
a strong, emotional draw to products that give
instant feedback. For example, our shower heads
have a small turbine that powers an LED
light-green for good usage, moving through
yellow to red as water consumption rises. People
want this for their
homes; it is a
simple, effective
way to help control
consumption,
especially
with kids.
With Rauma and
Olesno both driving
production, how
do the two sites
complement each
other? Do they
serve distinct
purposes or specialize differently, and how
much do you adapt product specs to local
market expectations?
About five years ago, the Group made a clear
decision to divide the focus of technology
between the two main manufacturing plants
to boost efficiency. Rauma, in Finland, became
the expert center for composite materials
(plastics) and leads the R&D for various other parts
and processes. Olesno, in Poland, was chosen as
the main production site for everything to do with
brass. While the final assembly happens at both
locations, this separation ensures each site
focuses on its strengths, prevents overlap, and
improves each site’s competitive performance.
As for adapting to local markets, yes, it’s essential.
A key difference lies in how things are installed.
For instance, in Finland, in-wall mounting
systems, which are popular in Poland and
Western Europe, are often restricted or not
used. Instead, we see surface-mounted pipes,
sometimes with attractive, visible metalwork
– a clear “Nordic design” choice.
Our product lines must reflect these
deep-seated regional preferences.
24 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Sponsored article
www.fazer.com
How do you blend Finnish efficiency with
the Polish entrepreneurial spirit? Which
leadership values help you build a unified,
cross-border culture?
I believe we work incredibly well together.
The combination of Finnish honesty and stability
with the energetic and sometimes impulsive
Polish business spirit is a major competitive asset.
The most important element of our shared,
international culture is an uncompromising culture
of openness. Unlike many companies, where
values only exist on paper, here at Oras they are
truly lived out every day, starting with the owners
and the Board. This openness, combined with
the significant freedom I have at Olesno, allows
us to act fast and with flexibility. In Poland,
we can quickly start projects and investment
changes, showing fast results. This rapid progress,
in turn, builds more trust with our Finnish partners,
helping us secure more investment for
the future. The deep respect for people is also
a key Finnish trait that I see practiced here, and
that many other international companies operating
in Poland could truly benefit from learning.
And what advice would you give to Polish CEOs
considering expansion to Finland?
The most important advice would be to properly
grasp Finnish culture before even planning
the expansion. Finland consistently ranks as one
of the happiest and, crucially, one of the most
honest nations in the world. This high level of
trust is not an idea; it is a real, everyday reality.
Polish CEOs need to understand that this calm,
high-trust culture means decisions are often
made more deliberately, with less impulsive
speed than we might be used to in Poland.
A leader who is “too eager” might find it
challenging at first. To succeed in Finland requires
patience, integrity, and a willingness to work
within this framework of quiet, careful trust.
We crossed paths at the NBF 25. Does personal
development fuel your leadership style?
Will you be attending next year? Do you have
any Polish recommendations for good
events in our market?
Absolutely. The chance to attend events like
the Nordic Business Forum is a great source
of new ideas and different viewpoints that directly
support my leadership. Leadership is a constant
journey of learning and I certainly plan to attend
next year. As for Polish suggestions, I would
suggest looking at the Europejski Kongres
Gospodarczy (European Economic Congress)
in Katowice, or some of the top management
conferences run by Polish business publications.
They are excellent places for networking and
grasping the core strategic trends in our region.
Do you have a favorite Finnish joke, music
or food? ;)
I’ll stick to the food! After spending time in Rauma,
I’ve come to enjoy Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian
pasties). It is a simple, comforting rye crust filled
with rice porridge!
FAZER
FAZER STRENGTHENS
ITS POSITION IN POLAND
Growing distribution, refreshed brands and a maturing
organization throughout 2025.
In 2025, Fazer continued to build its presence in Poland,
confirming that the decision to establish its own local operations
three years ago was the right strategic step. The company
expanded its customer base, strengthened its logistics
and relaunched communication for its key brands.
We spoke with Michał Wójcik, Director of Customer Unit
International at Fazer.
How has 2025 been for Fazer in Poland?
We were doing well and things are still getting better. After three years,
we now have clear proof that opening our own business in Poland
made sense. We have distribution with most key customers, and
it continues to expand. Our commercial team is growing and we
are managing the full Key Account structure internally. For the large
traditional trade channel, we began working with SOT (Cooperative
for the Trade of Dairy Industry Products) in Białystok. We also consolidated
logistics with a large Dutch company – Raben – which further
improved our operational setup.
What were the main accomplishments this year?
Expanding distribution and signing new contracts were definitely key
successes. We now work with all major retail chains in Poland. Another
highlight was the relaunch of Dumle communication – the first time
in at least 20 years.
Is Dumle still a bestseller?
Of course. Dumle has been in Poland since 1991 and remains
our strongest brand. According to Kantar, 72% of Poles recognize
it top-of-mind. At the same time, we are developing Geisha.
We started with in-store activations and will run a major nationwide
activation for Valentine’s Day 2026.
Do you have any advice for negotiating with big retail
chains in Poland?
The last two years were tough for the confectionery sector, especially
with cocoa prices spiking from around 2,000 euros to more than
12,000 euros per tonne. Buyers are very knowledgeable and pressed
for time – often only giving us 15-30 minutes. You need to be well
prepared and concise. Skip long presentations; focus on clear, precise
proposals. It significantly increases the chances of success.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 25

SECTION 2
www.tamtrongroup.com
TAMTRON
CONSISTENT GROWTH IN POLAND
A conversation with the founder and chairman of the board – Pentti Asikainen
TAMTRON IS A FINNISH INDUSTRIAL COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN WEIGHING SOLUTIONS.
IT HAS BEEN OPERATING ON THE POLISH MARKET SINCE THE LATE 1990S. EARLIER THIS YEAR,
TAMTRON STRENGTHENED ITS PRESENCE IN THE COUNTRY BY ACQUIRING THE LOCAL COMPANY
MASA – A MOVE THAT ALSO MARKED ITS FIRST PRODUCTION UNIT OUTSIDE FINLAND. TUOMAS
ASUNMAA SPOKE WITH PENTTI ASIKAINEN – CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AT TAMTRON
– ABOUT THE COMPANY’S JOURNEY IN POLAND AND ITS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
You have been in Poland for quite a long time
now, how did you get started here?
Our first Polish deal was quite a story. We were
at a Hannover fair when a Polish delegation visited
us and expressed an interest. We gave them
prices and a couple of months later they faxed us
a massive order. We thought it was a joke as we
never even visited them and seemed so unlikely.
But, a few days later the money arrived and things
got moving.
And this was in the 1990s I guess?
Yes. In 1999, we bought a local sales company
and physically entered Poland. That was a whole
other story, involving a bit of restructuring
and such things. But our crane scale product was
a perfect fit for the local market. All kinds of things
happened once we won a government tender
to sell 300 tonnes of scales all round Poland. It led
to us establishing a weights rental company.
Fast forwarding to 2025, you have made more
acquisitions and now have a production line
in Poland?
Yes, the business in Poland is worth around
5 million euros, and we expect the Masa
acquisition to add roughly 50% to that.
It is the first time in the company’s history that
we have a production unit outside of Finland.
I am delighted that it happened in Poland, as this
is a metal country and welders do a great job.
It probably helps with Mid-European sales too.
We certainly have even better opportunities now,
on top of the cost and logistics benefits, but we
also centralize all internal purchases to this unit,
so the production, and the knowledge, stays
PENTTI
ASIKAINEN,
Chairman
of the Board
at Tamtron
The durability
and reliability
of Tamtron
products are
proven by ISO
9001:2015 quality
certification
in house. Production in Poland is still small –
2,000 m 2 and 25 blue collars – but there is room
for expansion.
What is your approach to acquisitions?
Masa was a 20-year-old family company
and the owner will stay with us for at least five
years to make sure everything goes smoothly.
We have a good buyer profile, companies
are more willing to sell to us than to a cold VC
company. In our case, the sellers have always
cared about their people, and are keen to ensure
a smooth transition.
What would be your advice for Finnish export
companies?
Make sensible plans, but don’t plan too much. It is
more important to start executing and then make
changes on the go when needed. We always
made sure that the demand exists, and then you
can just go. Obviously check who you are doing
business with and don’t take the first person you
meet. Field and site visits are also just a must.
If you are not on the frontline, how can you know
what clients really want? So, fail fast, fix and try
again. Don’t be afraid, things tend to work out.
26 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.lindstromgroup.com
LINDSTRÖM
BUILDING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
THROUGH NORDIC VALUES
RAFAŁ KOPERA, CEO OF LINDSTRÖM POLAND, TALKS ABOUT THE COMPANY’S DEVELOPMENT
AND STRATEGIC VISION. LINDSTRÖM, A FINNISH FAMILY-OWNED TEXTILE SERVICE GROUP
WITH OVER 175 YEARS OF HISTORY, HAS BEEN IN POLAND SINCE 2002, PROVIDING WORKWEAR,
MATS AND HYGIENE SOLUTIONS. HERE HE DISCUSSES THE COMPANY’S STRONG GROWTH,
PLANS FOR EXPANSION, AND HOW NORDIC VALUES AND SUSTAINABILITY DRIVE ITS SUCCESS.
In recent years, Lindström’s turnover in Poland
has been growing at a double-digit rate.
How would you summarize the factors
behind this growth?
Our growth comes mainly from a strong client
base, continuous innovation, and successful
new client acquisition. We’ve also expanded
our services beyond workwear and mat rentals
– for example, adding industrial wiper rentals
– which helps us deepen our relationships
with existing clients and attract new ones
with a more comprehensive solution.
What position do you have on the Polish market
– are you already in the top 3 in your segment?
Not yet, but we’re well
on our way. We’ve expanded
beyond our traditional
base in central Poland
and are now growing rapidly
in the south and west, supported
by strong investments
in our sales force and local
presence. Our goal is to reach
the top 3 in the coming years.
When it comes to expansion,
you’ve invested in both
M&A and organic growth
recently. Have you experienced any surprises,
or has everything gone smoothly?
Organic growth and acquisitions are quite
different, with acquisitions usually bringing more
surprises. So far, our experience has been very
positive. Both paths have helped us accelerate
growth and we’ll keep exploring opportunities
to strengthen our position in Poland.
Geographically, where in Poland do you still see
growth, and where would you like to be in five
years?
Our goal is full national coverage with a strong
commercial structure across three regions
and a wider network of local laundries. A key step
is opening a fourth laundry in the south. We also
see strong potential in expanding our service
portfolio to bring even more value to our clients.
Your company has a long history. How is this
heritage reflected in your local actions?
We take a long-term approach to growth, focusing
not only on business performance but also
on the well-being of future generations.
RAFAŁ KOPERA,
Managing
Director
at Lindström
Poland
IN POLAND
SINCE 2002
3
UNITS/LAUNDRIES
167
EMPLOYEES
Our goal is to carry forward the Roiha family legacy
by building a financially sustainable business
that also protects the environment and supports
the communities where we operate.
Does it benefit your company, in your sector,
to be Finnish or Nordic?
There’s no direct advantage, but Nordic values
such as respect, partnership, and integrity are well
recognized and appreciated. They shape how we
work and how clients see us. Our strong focus
on sustainability also sets us apart, and it’s great
to see this becoming more important in Poland,
too. Ultimately, our real strength lies in our people
and how they live these values every day.
What’s your favorite feature of working with
Finns? And is there anything from Polish culture
you’d like to see implemented in Finland?
I’m not sure I’d call it a favorite, but it’s why I’ve
stayed with a Finnish company for over 21 years. It’s
the culture of the spoken word – when a Finn says
something, it carries the same weight as a signed
agreement. They always keep their word, and I’ve
learned that a simple “yes” is as good as a contract.
What would you say to a Finnish investor
considering the Polish market?
I’d say – don’t be discouraged by the competition.
Focus on the opportunity to grow in one
of Europe’s most dynamic economies. Poland
offers both scale and flexibility, making it a great
place to build a strong and fast-growing business.
If you’re looking for a market where you can
expand quickly while building lasting relationships
and solid teams, Poland is the right choice.
And as a Finnish company, you already have
a natural advantage – a strong reputation for
quality, transparency, and social responsibility,
which Polish partners truly value.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 27

SECTION 2
www.koskisen.fi
KOSKISEN
KOSKISEN KORE GROWS WITH
A NEW FACTORY IN SKWIERZYNA
KOSKISEN KORE, A BUSINESS UNIT OF FINLAND’S KOSKISEN CORPORATION, HAS SPENT MORE
THAN 15 YEARS DEVELOPING ITS POLISH OPERATIONS, WHICH BEGAN IN THE SMALL VILLAGE
OF TOPORÓW AND EXPANDED IN 2024 TO INCLUDE A NEW FACTORY IN SKWIERZYNA. KNOWN
FOR PRODUCING VAN INTERIOR PANELS MADE FROM FINNISH BIRCH PLYWOOD, KORE NOW
EMPLOYS AROUND 130 PEOPLE ACROSS ROUGHLY 8,000 M² OF PRODUCTION SPACE. SPONDEO
SPOKE WITH BUSINESS UNIT DIRECTOR JORI SILFVERBERG ABOUT THE COMPANY’S
DEVELOPMENT IN POLAND AND THE INSIGHTS GAINED ALONG THE WAY.
Your Polish journey began in the tiny village
of Toporów. What is it like to operate in such
a remote location?
The choice of Toporów is hard to explain in one
sentence, but Western Poland made sense
logistically. It’s close to Europe’s major van markets,
which allows us to organize client deliveries
efficiently – even in small batches. Working
in Toporów has been good overall. Finding specialised
experts has occasionally been challenging,
but on the other hand, employee turnover has
remained remarkably low.
Last year you expanded to Skwierzyna. How do
operations look today?
The new site is a full-scale factory. The first phase
focused on implementation and ramping up
production for major new customers. Now we’re
preparing to expand output further and increase
our machine base as we bring in additional clients.
You also received an internal award within
the company. What was it for?
It’s called The Work of the Year – an annual
Koskisen Group award for teams achieving
significant results. Our Polish core team earned it
for reaching full factory ‘uptime’ in just eight
months. We moved into the new facility in May
2024 and achieved the technical readiness target
by December. It was a major project: recruiting
JORI
SILFVERBERG,
Director
of Kore
Business Unit
Koskisen Kore is
unique in Europe
for controlling
the entire value
chain from forest
to finished van
interior, without
intermediaries.
New Koskisen factory
in Skwierzyna
and training staff, installing machines, making new
investments, and reshaping the entire production
organization.
What advice would you give to companies
planning to open production in Poland?
Understand the local culture and way of working,
and make sure you find the right partners from
day one. Good support – especially in dealings
with authorities – helps avoid unnecessary bumps
along the way.
You’ve managed operations in Poland twice,
first in 2013–2015 and now since 2021. What are
your main takeaways?
The Finnish and Polish ways of working are surprisingly
similar, though company culture always
matters. Trust building and listening go a long way
in both countries.
What can Finns learn from Poles?
A strong willingness to learn – especially among
younger generations
28 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.fspcorp.com
FSP
FSP’S GROWTH JOURNEY IN POLAND:
A STRATEGIC SUCCESS STORY
WHEN FINNISH INDUSTRIAL SERVICE COMPANY FSP ENTERED THE POLISH MARKET BACK IN 2012,
FEW COULD HAVE PREDICTED HOW SIGNIFICANT THE COUNTRY WOULD BECOME FOR THE GROUP.
TODAY, POLAND IS ONE OF FSP’S KEY MARKETS, ACCOUNTING FOR A MAJOR SHARE OF THE COM-
PANY’S TOTAL REVENUE AND PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN ITS GROWTH STRATEGY. OUR INTERVIEW
WITH PETRI RINTALA, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE FSP GROUP, HIGHLIGHTS THE POTENTIAL OF
THE POLISH INDUSTRIAL MARKET AND THE VALUE OF STRONG FINNISH-POLISH COOPERATION.
FSP came to Poland in 2012 and it has become
a crucial market for your group with good
growth prospects. How has that journey been?
It has been both exciting and rewarding. Poland
has proven to be a strong and dynamic market
for us, and our growth over the past years has exceeded
all expectations. Poland is a very important
area for us, and it plays a central role in our
overall group strategy. We see Poland as one
of the fastest-growing countries and have high
expectations regarding both short- and long-term
growth. The company continues to invest in its
local presence, technology, and partnerships -
aiming to further expand in key industrial sectors.
This probably includes the defence sector,
is that a promising prospect?
FSP has a strong history and experience regarding
the defence sector, and this is also
one of the strategic industries we are focusing
on in Poland. Defence-related projects remain
one of FSP’s strategic targets, supported by decades
of expertise and proven quality standards
we have.
Given that you are operating in the industrial
services segment, you must know a lot about
the main challenges to production companies
– is there anything you can draw attention to?
Inflation definitely plays a key role in long-term
profitability, efficiency strategy and planning.
Labor costs increase year by year, so it’s crucial
PETRI RINTALA,
General
Manager of FSP
Group
to stay on top of developments and continuously
improve operations to cope with rising expenses.
FSP emphasizes continuous improvement
and operational efficiency as essential tools
for staying competitive in a changing cost
environment.
You have been operating in the north-west
corner of Poland, close to the German border.
What can you say about the labor market there?
The labor market has been good for us. We also
work with a couple of reliable manpower companies
to adapt to fluctuations in market demand.
The local labor availability has certainly met our
expectations, and working together with trusted
staffing partners has helped maintain flexibility
in response to changing workloads.
Have you come across any surprises – positive
or negative – while doing business in Poland?
Overall, we have been positively surprised
by the professionalism and motivation of our
Polish employees and partners. The business
culture is dynamic and forward-looking.
Can you offer any hints for newcomers
in the manufacturing sector?
Get yourselves a good partner on the legal
side, and prepare from a resource point of view
– the governance from the country and government
can be rather demanding, so make sure
you have your things in order.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 29

SECTION 2
www.stofix.com
STOFIX
A FINNISH PERSPECTIVE ON POLAND’S
CHANGING INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE
An interview with Krister Sigfrids, Managing Director of Stofix Group
FINNISH INDUSTRY IS KNOWN FOR ITS CALM, PRACTICAL APPROACH. BUT FOR COMPANIES
LIKE STOFIX, EXPANDING ABROAD MEANT MAKING A BIG, DELIBERATE MOVE – SETTING UP MAJOR
PRODUCTION IN POLAND. IT IS A DECISION THAT REFLECTS CENTRAL EUROPE’S GROWING
ECONOMIC PULL AND IS ABOUT FAR MORE THAN JUST LOWER COSTS.
When Weronika Gidel-Asunmaa spoke with
Krister Sigfrids, the managing director running
Stofix’s Polish operations, the usual boardroom
lines faded fast. Instead, the conversation
focused on what it really takes to build a Finnish
business in Poland: the unexpected challenges,
the surprising fits, and the everyday interactions
that shape this important meeting point
between two industrial worlds.
When the company first decided to set up production
in Poland, what was the turning point
that convinced you it was the right move – cost,
talent, location, or something less obvious?
In 2014, we urgently needed production capacity
due to international expansion into the Nordics
and the UK; our Oulu factory couldn’t cope.
The decision was logistical: we needed a location
closer to our key markets. While cost was a factor,
Poznań’s position, directly on the road to Europe,
made it the logical choice to solve capacity
and supply chain issues simultaneously.
What was the biggest surprise after entering
the Polish market – something you couldn’t
have predicted from Finland?
The biggest strategic challenge was establishing
the correct management structure. We quickly
realized the need to build a strong, empowered
local team. You cannot successfully steer a large
production site remotely; it must be done with
local people. Empowering the Polish team
with genuine responsibility and local managers
was a critical, beneficial shift.
Many still think of Poland mainly as a costeffective
base. What are the hidden strengths
you’ve discovered in the local workforce?
There is still a cost benefit, but salary inflation
is high, so that benefit is decreasing. The hidden
strength is the versatility of the team. Our production
is quite hands on and, by making renovations
to accommodate them, we increased the proportion
of women in production. This has had
a very positive effect on our quality and morale
in the factory. It’s good to have a blend.
Your company exports mainly to Western
Europe and the Nordics. Do you plan to start
selling in Poland anytime soon?
We would love to sell in Poland and have reference
projects close to the factory, but we simply
KRISTER
SIGFRIDS,
Managing
Director
of Stofix
Group
have so much to do on our current markets.
So, we will at some point, but we are not
actively planning to start up sales in Poland
at the moment.
What is the single most important piece of
advice you’d offer a Finnish manufacturer considering
setting up production in Poland today?
My advice is simple: find a very, very good local
manager and trust them implicitly. The time for
a Finnish expatriate managing every detail is over.
Poland is integrated into Europe, but to navigate
the local specifics, from the bureaucracy
to the nuances of local hiring, you need a trusted
Polish partner on the ground. That local fluency
is non-negotiable for long-term operational
success.
THE MOST ”POLISH” THING THAT
HAS INFLUENCED ME IS THE VISIBLE,
INCREDIBLE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT
I’VE WITNESSED OVER THE LAST
EIGHT YEARS.
”
What’s the most “Finnish” thing still visible
in your Polish plant, and what’s the most “Polish”
thing that has influenced you?
The most “Finnish” thing remains the root
of the product itself: invented in Finland and
designed for a tough Nordic climate. That association
with durability and high-quality engineering
is a fantastic recruiting tool. The most “Polish”
thing that has influenced me is the visible,
incredible pace of development I’ve witnessed
over the last eight years. Poland is visibly and
rapidly becoming more “European” and less “East.”
It’s inspiring to see this country’s energy and
momentum firsthand.
As an experienced sailor, have you had
an opportunity to sail in Poland? :)
I haven’t managed to sail in Poland yet, but I meet
plenty of Polish sailors every summer in Finland
and Sweden, and it’s always easy to connect
– especially when they hear I also work in Poland.
With limited time, my favorite place to sail is close
to home, in the Finnish archipelago.
30 FINNISH BUSINESS&CULTURE in Poland

www.arskagroup.com
ARSKA
FINNISH ARSKA GROUP BETS BIG ON POLAND’S
BUMPER HARVEST
The familiar Finnish mix of steady engineering
and no-nonsense execution is now meeting
the ambition of Polish agriculture. Arska Group,
Finland’s leading name in grain handlin and
silo solutions, is growing its presence in Europe’s
grain heartland by making a long-term,
serious investment in the market’s momentum.
With a dedicated Polish unit – Arska Polska –
set to launch in 2026, the step simply formalizes
a partnership that’s already proving its value.
Poland has been Arska’s steady top spot in exports
for years already, with the land and potential
to quietly outgrow the Nordics and the Baltics
together. Its farming area is about ten times that
of Finland, so the numbers just fall into place.
“Farms in Poland display active development
and aggressive investment in the future,” says
Janne Käkönen, CEO of Arska Group. “The position
of agriculture in Poland is considered
extremely central and important to society.”
As farm sizes steadily increase and yields rise,
the investment imperative for modern grainhandling
technology – Arska’s specialty – is
undeniable. The new Polish entity will be steered
by a familiar, authoritative figure: Dariusz Benke,
who will transition into the role of partner
and CEO of the forthcoming Arska Polska. It will
be an important role as Käkönen hints at a more
profound commitment: “We are also seriously
considering the possibility of initiating manufacturing
operations in Poland.”
JANNE
KÄKÖNEN,
CEO of Arska
Group
ARSKA GROUP
IN NUMBERS
3 factories
in Finland
About 80
employees
Turnover
15-18 m euros
40% share
of exports
Know-how
since 1952
www.purmo.com
PURMO
LAUNCH OF A NEW PRODUCTION LINE IN RYBNIK
JANUSZ
SKIBNIEWSKI,
Marketing
Cluster Lead
at Purmo
Rybnik factory
after the
completion
of recent
investments
Purmo, a Finnish company belonging to the
Rettig Group and well known for its radiators,
heaters and coolers, is one of the early Finnish
investors in Poland, active on the market since
1992. The company operates two major radiator
factories – in Rybnik and Wałcz – manufacturing
products for three of its brands and forming one
of Purmo’s most important production bases.
“These facilities not only serve the Polish market,
but also support our global operations,” says
Janusz Skibniewski, Marketing Cluster Lead.
From these sites, Purmo radiators are shipped
to more than 100 countries, including major
destinations such as Great Britain and Germany.
Despite the strong export volume, Poland itself
remains central to the business. As Skibniewski
notes, “Around 20% of our total production stays
in Poland.” The factories produce a wide assortment
of radiators – from classic panel models
to vertical and decorative designs – tailored
both to local demand and global trends.
A highlight of recent years has been the launch
of a new hybrid production line in 2024, marking
a significant step in modernizing operations.
Jarosław Radczuk, Technical and Investment
Manager, describes the scope: a newly built production
and warehouse hall, an overhead crane,
and a complex welding line assembled by three
specialist suppliers. The project also brought
in a 1000-ton hydraulic press, new vertical
stamping tools, and comprehensive upgrades
to the power, cooling and ventilation systems.
With increased production and a key role in
Europe’s supply chain, Purmo’s Polish operations
are entering a new phase of focused growth.
Work in Rybnik is actively focused on automating
the critical palletizing area – a move designed
to get maximum operational efficiency out
of the expanding facilities and ensure Purmo’s
production tempo can flawlessly match growing
global demand. Boosted production and
a key spot in Europe’s supply chain mark a new,
sharper growth phase for Purmo in Poland.
FINNISH BUSINESS&CULTURE in Poland 31

SECTION 2
www.nordtreat.com
NORDTREAT
FINNISH-POLISH TIMBER COLLABORATION
SETTING NEW FIRE-SAFETY STANDARDS
In a significant development for sustainable urban architecture,
the new headquarters of CD PROJEKT RED in Warsaw
has set a fresh benchmark for safety in modern timber construction.
Delivered by general contractor Skanska, the project’s
defining feature – a beautiful facade made of structural
glued laminated timber (glulam) – represents a successful
collaboration that blends Polish manufacturing precision
with Finnish innovation in chemical safety.
The challenge was balancing the aesthetic demands
of the globally recognized video-game developer with strict
fire protection standards. To achieve this, Andrewex Construction,
the Polish manufacturer responsible for the pine glulam
elements, formed a strategic partnership with Nordtreat,
a Finnish leader in bio-based fire protection.
Serafin Jerzy Szyszka, Director of Contract Delivery
at Andrewex Construction, says this synergy was essential
to the project’s success.
“The use of Nordtreat’s NORFLAM flame retardants,
combined with Andrewex Construction’s
proper design of glulam elements for the CD
PROJEKT RED building, not only catches the eye
but, above all, meets the highest fire safety
standards. This successful cooperation provides
a solid foundation for delivering further ambitious
projects.”
According to Skanska’s project manager, the
project is a testament to early-stage collaboration
in complex developments. By successfully
deploying glulam in block sections as an external
structural element, the building serves as a proof
of concept for the wider industry, showing that,
with the right technological partners, modern
timber architecture can be as safe as it is
sustainable.
www.docue.com
DOCUE
TRAILBLAZERS IN LEGALTECH
Docue is a Finnish legal tech company that provides a cloudbased
platform for contract creation and management. It is
designed primarily to help SMEs and in-house teams create,
sign, and store lawyer-grade documents without the high
cost of traditional legal fees. We spoke with Jukka Jaakkola,
CCO at Docue, about the company’s expansion to Poland.
How was your journey to the Polish market,
did everything go according to the playbook?
We launched in 2024 and it all went fairly smoothly.
Our go-to-market is always based on the market size, it has
to be big enough with lots of SMEs that create documents
and need legal services. Then we localize the product
and have our own local lawyer and support team.
Do Polish companies know that your kind of service exists?
We tend to be trailblazers because we have very little direct
competition. We are usually competing against Word docs,
in-house teams and documents here and there, so we need
to create the market. We certainly do have competition,
for example in the HR segment, but our service is very
comprehensive and we haven’t come across a competitor
with an offering this wide.
Did you come across any surprises when launching
in Poland?
We went through numerous surprises during the earlier market
entries, so nothing surprises us any more. Of course, every
country has its own features, but nothing was particularly
different in Poland.
DOCUE:
Established in 2015
A Finnish legaltech
growth company
Headcount 25
Currently operating
in five markets
What about Docue’s plans and targets in Poland?
We already have a couple of hundred clients in Poland, from
online sales. Our strategy is to establish local sales and look
for partnerships, for example HR, CRM, accounting etc.
software where users create documents and contracts.
Then we connect the Docue tool to them. With our existing
customer base, we understand the market now and are getting
ready for the next moves! Our long-term target is to become
an EU-wide player.
32 FINNISH BUSINESS&CULTURE in Poland

www.scanfil.com
SCANFIL
PREPARATIONS FOR FURTHER
EXPANSION IN POLAND
SCANFIL HAS GROWN FROM HUMBLE FINNISH ORIGINS TO ONE THE LARGEST EMS (ELECTRONIC
MANUFACTURING SERVICES) SUPPLIERS IN EUROPE. IN POLAND, SCANFIL HAS FACTORIES
IN SIERADZ AND MYSŁOWICE, WITH MORE THAN 1,500 PROFESSIONALS. IN SEPTEMBER 2025,
THE COMPANY ORGANIZED AN INVESTOR RELATIONS DAY AND FACTORY TOUR IN SIERADZ. TUOMAS
ASUNMAA FROM SPONDEO SPOKE WITH ANDRZEJ POLOJKO, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SCANFIL
POLAND, WHO GAVE AN INSIGHT INTO THE COMPANY’S POSITION AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
Scanfil is the fourth or fifth largest Finnish
employer in Poland, how is it to be managing
two factories and over 1,500 people?
Overseeing a facility that large brings its own
complexities. Serving numerous customers
– each with distinct expectations and processes
– can at times feel like running several operations
at once. Yet, the role remains challenging,
demanding and ultimately deeply rewarding.
During your IR day, we learned that you have
expansion plans ready; how would you summarize
the demand and market conditions, and say
whether you’re gonna break ground soon?
It is noticeable that market sentiment remains
cautious. Even so, we are seeing a robust project
pipeline and a record number of quotations
submitted this year, both to existing clients and
– significantly – to new ones. Bearing that in mind,
we have prepared ourselves for future expansion,
securing all necessary permits for a new facility.
Construction will begin as soon as demand
approaches the capacity of the current premises.
Business-culture-wise, are there any differences
or similarities you have learnt from working
with Finns?
For most of my professional career I worked
for American companies, but Finnish culture
is no stranger to international business. I have
had long-standing relationships with Scandinavian
clients and managers and I appreciate
the communication style of Finns.
ANDRZEJ
POLOJKO,
Managing
Director of
Scanfil Poland
Photo by Tuomas
Asunmaa
SCANFIL
Scanfil came to Poland 10 years ago
by acquiring Partnertech, how has this
journey been?
Oh, it has been very interesting and rewarding.
The Sieradz factory is on a completely different
level than it was ten years ago. The factory premises
and production equipment are modern and
the business has grown significantly, not forgetting
the development of the personnel.
Over the years, you have also expanded
operations and cooperated with the
Special Economic Zone, are there any
recommendations for someone considering
investing in Poland?
Initially, it was challenging to
Founded
in 1976
11 factories
9 countries
4,000
employees
find a suitable model for Scanfil
that could utilize the Special
Economic Zone. Once the right
people were found, the pieces
fell into place efficiently.
It’s worth organizing and
not giving up!
What would be your main
advice when managing operations
and people in Poland?
I don’t see any particular
difference in Poland. Be open,
positive and direct, with honest
communication, that’s a good
foundation for business
development.
FINNISH BUSINESS&CULTURE in Poland 33

SECTION 2
www.buglo.pl
www.leikkiset.fi
LEIKKISET
RAISING THE BAR: A STRATEGIC
MERGER IN PROGRESS
An Interview with Tomi Mäkilä on the Buglo-LeikkiSet Acquisition
A SUBTLE BUT SIGNIFICANT WAVE OF POLISH INVESTMENT IS REDRAWING THE MAP
OF THE FINNISH BUSINESS LANDSCAPE. THE RECENT SALE OF LEIKKISET, FINLAND’S SECOND
-LARGEST PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER, TO ITS LONG-TIME POLISH SUBCONTRACTOR,
BUGLO, IS NOT A TYPICAL NORDIC EXIT – IT IS ACTUALLY A LOGICAL CULMINATION OF A DECADE-
-LONG PARTNERSHIP, LINKING FINNISH MARKET CREDIBILITY WITH POLISH INDUSTRIAL SCALE.
We spoke with Tomi Mäkilä, one of the three
main former shareholders of LeikkiSet,
about the deal, the subcontracting business
and the powerful cross-cultural synergy
driving this modern business trend.
The acquisition of Finnish firms by Polish capital
is on the rise. Was selling LeikkiSet to a Polish
partner, Buglo, a foreseeable or expected move
for your company?
Absolutely. LeikkiSet’s DNA is inherently Polish
as well. We started in 2011 with the goal of
importing Polish playground equipment into
Finland. I joined as a sales manager in 2012.
We recognized the competitive edge early on
– high quality at a lower price point. By the time
we sold, LeikkiSet was the second biggest
in the field, a solid 10 million euros business
that even drew 25% of its revenue from Sweden.
How did you introduce these products
and build such a strong Finnish presence?
In the beginning, competition was fierce.
Public procurement focuses heavily on price,
so Polish products fit that criterion, but there
was a significant obstacle: documentation. Finnish
procurement is heavy, detailed, and demanding.
We had to intensely develop and adapt the
product for the local market and build trust.
That’s how the proprietary LeikkiSet brand developed,
though all the production was handled
by our network of subcontractors in Poland.
You could say we were the market interpreters.
You had offers from Finnish firms as well.
Why choose Buglo, one of your subcontractors?
We decided it was time to sell because the three
shareholders were at different life stages. We had
to secure the future of the company. In the end,
Buglo was the best option, a true win-win. They
had the biggest muscles, the necessary production
capacity and, crucially, they are backed
by a Polish VC. We always resisted letting one
subcontractor become dominant, but by having
Buglo take over LeikkiSet, many processes were
immediately simplified and costs were reduced.
Buglo gave us the capital and scale that LeikkiSet
needed to grow, and that stability was also
attractive for our people.
Did they retain the LeikkiSet identity or absorb it?
They kept our brand. We are now operating as
LeikkiSet
playground
“LeikkiSet by Buglo.” Our clients
already knew the Buglo name
because it’s written on the
equipment, but retaining
the Finnish LeikkiSet name
preserves the critical local market
trust we worked hard to build.
Having worked with Polish partners
for so long, what’s the most
pronounced cultural difference
you observed in business?
It often comes down to the service
package. In Poland, you frequently
get an excellent product
at an excellent price, but the customer
service is not always fully
integrated. You often have to build
that service and support structure
yourself. If you look at the Germans, they might be
50% more expensive, but the spare parts, logistics
and instructions are perfectly clear. The trade-off is
that Germans can be super stiff. Polish people are
incredibly keen; when they want to sell, they sell.
The stereotypical image is that personal relations
matter a lot, and nothing is official without
a dozen stamps and signatures.
That stamp thing is certainly true! But we always
had reliable and open cooperation with our Polish
partners. We never felt anyone tried to cheat us.
Personal relations were absolutely critical.
We often started with younger export staff, which
can be frustrating since they lack decision-making
power. But once you connect with the manager,
the final decision-maker, things move quickly.
It sounds like you appreciated
that entrepreneurial spirit.
Oh, very much so. There is a palpable sense
of growth and action – a feeling of getting things
done. You see young people driving companies
forward. I liked the culture; Poles are genuinely
brave and entrepreneurial people.
Now that LeikkiSet is in Buglo’s hands,
what’s next for you?
I’ll be back, absolutely. Whatever new idea I have,
whenever I choose a start-up to invest in, I google
first for potential in Poland. It’s close by, easy
to travel to, a large market, and full of innovation.
The opportunity for growth is right there.
34 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.mekitec.com
MEKITEC
INVESTING IN THE POLISH
FOOD SAFETY MARKET
Mekitec is a Finnish manufacturer specializing
exclusively in X-ray inspection solutions and
related software for the food industry. With
over 15 years of experience, Mekitec has grown
into a globally recognized top-tier technology
provider, with devices installed in more than
40 countries. We met up with Anton Nemes,
Business Development Manager at Mekitec.
Poland is a huge food production market
– how important is it in Mekitec’s strategy?
It is strategically very important for Mekitec.
The country has a strong domestic market and
a significant export-oriented food industry, creating
continuous demand for reliable and efficient
inspection solutions. Poland is a key focus area
in Mekitec’s growth strategy. We have increased
our targeted activities in the market and are
working closely with local partners and networks,
including Spondeo, to strengthen lead generation,
market visibility, and customer engagement.
How does the Polish market or clients differ?
The same international food safety standards apply,
and expectations regarding quality, traceability,
and compliance are very high. Due to Poland’s
large domestic consumption and strong export
ANTON NEMES,
Business
Development
Manager
at Mekitec
volumes, food production facilities are often larger
here than in many other countries. Culturally,
Poland is not significantly different from Finland
in a European context. Many of the same business
values apply, which makes cooperation and
building long-term relationships straightforward.
Language barriers can sometimes exist, which
further highlights the importance of reliable
local partners who understand both the market
and the technology.
You already have several remarkable and
well-known Polish clients. How is it working
with them?
Working with our Polish customers has been
smooth and professional. Our cooperation has
been seamless and projects have progressed
efficiently. We value the open dialogue and longterm
relationships we have built with them.
www.raisio.com
RAISIO
BENECOL AND ELOVENA DRIVING
RAISIO’S GROWTH IN POLAND
Raisio has been present in Poland for over
30 years, with their core brands Benecol and
Elovena reaching 12,000 points of sales. The
Country Manager and Member of the Board
of Raisio Poland, Michał Rubaszko, shared his
insights on Raisio’s position and the nuances
of the Polish retail market.
How are your brands performing in Poland?
Benecol is the cornerstone and Elovena is
growing fast. Benecol received the Golden
Emblem – Consumer Quality Leader 2025 award
in the category of health-promoting margarines
in Poland. Consumption of oat-based products
in Poland is rising, but Poles do not yet eat
oatmeal like Finns.
Do you feel that being a Finnish brand
is beneficial in Poland?
Finland is often associated with quality and
nature, but you can’t rely on “Finnishness” alone.
Consumers expect good availability, a competitive
price and attractive local communication.
We combine the benefits of Finnish origin with
a locally adapted market approach.
Any special targets for 2026?
We are testing entries into new channels and
developing new products, including oat drinks
and jumbo oat formats. For Benecol, we plan
to renew the brand and invest in marketing
aimed at healthcare professionals.
Do you have any suggestions for Finnish
food brands looking at the Polish market?
Distribution – Poland is a market where discounters
and local formats matter a lot. Plan how
to reach these channels. Price sensitivity – the
market is promotion-driven and includes price
wars; plan RGM (price/pack architecture) and
promotion scenarios carefully. Invest in visibility
– when products are visible and tailored to local
expectations, growth comes faster.
New formats and flavors adapted to local habits
(e.g. oat drinks, convenient pack sizes) accelerate
adoption. Strong local team and logistics partners
– essential to understand the local specifics.
How about you personally, what is it like
to work with Finns?
Finns are usually very matter-of-fact, punctual
and goal-oriented, and the corporate culture also
promotes transparency and accountability. Differences
appear in decision tempo and the emphasis
on local market nuances, so the key is to
combine Finnish discipline with local flexibility!
MICHAŁ
RUBASZKO,
Country
Manager
and Member
of the Board
Elovena
products
in Carrefour
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 35

SECTION 2
www.steadyenergy.com
STEADY ENERGY
NUCLEAR HEAT
FOR A COAL PHASE-OUT
We spoke with Matti Pentti, the Chief Commercial Officer about the company’s plans for Poland.
STEADY ENERGY DESIGNS, BUILDS, AND OPERATES COMPACT ADVANCED NUCLEAR HEATING
PLANTS FOR URBAN ENERGY SYSTEMS. PURPOSE-BUILT FOR DISTRICT HEATING, THE LDR-50
REACTOR OPERATES AT LOW TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES, OFFERING STEADY AND
EMISSION-FREE HEAT. THE COMPANY WAS FOUNDED IN 2023 AS A SPIN-OFF FROM VTT,
THE TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTER OF FINLAND.
You entered the Polish market in 2025.
What was your market entry strategy
and experience?
We were focused on partnerships and a lot of
listening at first. We started by talking with district
heating companies, municipalities, regulators, and
local engineering partners to understand Poland’s
specific needs around decarbonization, energy
security, and cost stability. The experience has
been very positive – there are strong technical
skills, a clear interest in new nuclear solutions for
heat, and a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach
from the stakeholders.
How would you summarize the Polish energy
market and possibilities? How does it differ
from other markets you are present in?
Poland is at a pivotal moment in its energy
transition. There is large demand for reliable,
low-carbon heat and power, driven by the
phaseout of coal, high demand for industrial
heat, and district heating systems. Compared
to some other markets, Poland combines urgency
with scale; decisions matter system wide.
The openness to nuclear energy as part of
the solution is particularly notable.
You have participated in numerous events,
which do you recommend for companies
looking to network in the energy sector?
We like events that combine policy, industry, and
technology discussions. What matters most is not
size, but the quality of dialogue – events where
MATTI PENTTI,
Chief
Commercial
Officer at
Steady Energy
Modular district
heating plant
Image by Steady
Energy
decision makers are present and open to specific
project discussions.
What are your short- and longer-term targets
in Poland? Will there be big news during 2026?
Short term, our focus is on feasibility studies,
partner selection, and project development with
district heating companies. Longer term, the goal
is to deploy Steady Energy reactors as an essential
element of Poland’s clean heat infrastructure.
We expect important milestones ahead and 2026
is shaping up to be a very interesting year.
Switching to the business culture, were
there any shocks when meeting local
decision makers?
We were positively surprised by how wellprepared
and technically knowledgeable Polish
decision makers are. Discussions are direct, substantive,
and focused on long-term value rather
than quick wins. There is also a strong emphasis
on national resilience and industrial competitiveness,
which aligns well with our mission.
Do you have any recommendations
for newcomers?
Take the time to understand the local context
and build trust. Poland values commitment,
credibility, and long-term presence. Engage
early with local partners, be transparent, and
come prepared with specific solutions rather
than generic concepts. If you do that, Poland
is a very rewarding market to be in.
36 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.fortum.pl
FORTUM IN POLAND
GROWTH, DECARBONISATION
AND NEW INVESTMENTS
TWO DECADES OF EXPANSION, STRENGTHENED BY ACQUISITIONS, MODERNIZATION
PROJECTS AND PIONEERING TECHNOLOGIES
Finnish giant Fortum entered the Polish market
in 2003 and has since built one of the country’s
most substantial district heating and energy
portfolios. It now operates two CHP plants and
more than 940 km of networks supplying around
360,000 households across Płock, Wrocław,
Częstochowa, Zabrze and Bytom. With 145 MW
of electricity capacity, over 568 MW of heat
production and roughly EUR 1.5 billion in annual
revenues, Fortum has become an important player
in Poland’s urban energy landscape, employing
over 700 people.
In 2025, Fortum expanded its position in the retail
electricity segment through the acquisition of
Orange Energia, a transaction completed on 30
June. The business has been fully integrated into
Fortum, with all customer contracts and service
conditions remaining unchanged. A long-term
partnership ensures Fortum’s visibility in Orange
Polska stores nationwide until at least 2028. The
transition mainly affects visual identity and digital
platforms, marking a significant step in strengthening
Fortum’s consumer-facing business.
“Fortum has long been one of the leading
independent solution providers in the Polish
electricity and gas market, with a strong focus
on the Enterprise (B2B) customer segment.
Following the acquisition of Orange Energia,
Fortum has become the largest electricity and
gas supplier in Poland outside of the Big Five.
This is not just about scale – we believe the
merger significantly strengthens our sales and
operational capabilities in Poland and positions
us favorably for further growth in a market
where more than 95% of households have never
switched their supplier.” says Maciej Makowski,
Director, Consumer Continental Europe Solutions
at Fortum.
In October 2025, Fortum took a major step
in its coal phase-out strategy by announcing
an 85-million-euro upgrade of its Zabrze CHP
plant. The retrofit, scheduled between late 2025
and 2027, will introduce biomass next to existing
refuse-derived fuel technologies, reducing
coal-based capacity by 0.1 GW and cutting annual
emissions by approximately 280,000 tonnes.
Following the earlier Częstochowa decarbonisation,
this project positions Poland at the forefront
of Fortum’s global move away from coal, set
to conclude by 2027.
“First works on site within the scope of the
modernization of the Zabrze CHP plant are
scheduled to start in spring 2026 and be
completed in 2027. The goal is to replace coal
Fortum CHP plant
in Zabrze, Poland
in the fuel mix with
certified biomass – wood
chips. A similar project is
already underway in
Częstochowa. At Fortum,
we place great importance
on ensuring that our
investments not only
follow the direction of
climate policy but also
genuinely address the
needs of local communities.
In Zabrze, our aim is
cleaner air and predictable heating costs,” said
Kamila Zybura-Pluta, Director, Investment
Execution at Fortum. “I would like to thank the
project team and the contractors for their
commitment to a cleaner tomorrow,” she added.
Beyond its major decarbonisation projects, Fortum
has also delivered innovative solutions such as
Wrompa, Poland’s largest wastewater-based heat
pump. Operating since 2024, it provides 12.5 MW
of thermal output, supplying up to 5% of Wrocław’s
district heating demand. The more than 20-million-euro
project, built with Wrocław’s municipal
water utility, includes a one-kilometer connection
pipeline and forms a key step toward a cleaner,
more resilient heating system for the city.
“Wrompa is the largest system heat pump in
Poland, with a capacity of 12.5 MW. The installation
also requires extensive supporting infrastructure
(…) One year after commissioning, it
is already a key element of Wrocław’s modern
district heating system, covering up to 5% of the
city’s annual demand for district heat. The pump
allows us to recover renewable heat from
municipal wastewater, mainly from the central
and southern parts of Wrocław,” says Mariusz
Dzikuć, Director Strategy and Growth at Fortum.
“Wrompa is fully aligned with the principles
of the circular economy, which is a cornerstone
of Fortum’s operations. In a circular model,
the end of one product’s life becomes the
beginning of its next use – and this approach
is particularly important in Wrocław, where
the heating system is to a large extent coalbased
and requires decisive steps towards
cleaner energy and decarbonization,” he adds.
Altogether, Fortum’s 2025 initiatives show
a company redefining its place in Poland’s energy
scene. Its move into retail, progress on coal
phase-out, and new heating projects all head
toward one goal - a cleaner, more efficient energy
future for Polish cities and a lasting commitment
to reliable urban power and heat.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 37

SECTION 2
www.meruspower.com
MERUS POWER
ELECTRIFYING THE POLISH
BESS MARKET
MERUS POWER IS A FINNISH LISTED INDUSTRIAL COMPANY PROVIDING INDUSTRY-SCALE ENERGY
STORAGE SYSTEMS. IT ENJOYED A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR IN POLAND IN 2025, WITH TWO MAJOR
DEALS. SPONDEO CEO TUOMAS ASUNMAA MET WITH MARKUS OVASKAINEN, DIRECTOR OF SALES
AND MARKETING, TO DISCUSS THE POLISH BESS (BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM) MARKET
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING THE RIGHT PARTNERS.
First of all, congratulations on a great year
in Poland with two major deals. Was this down
to great partner cooperation?
Thank you! Our local partner, EPQS, is indeed
behind the deals, with the honor belonging to
them. They are exceptional partners, able to sell
our whole portfolio, including BESS and active
harmonic filters.
Is this a long-term cooperation already?
The relationship between Merus Power and
EPQS is based on long-term personal relationships
that are actually older than the company
itself, originating to previous positions of our CEO.
You made two energy storage deals,
one with a private investor and the other
with ENEA via a public tender. How long
were these sales processes?
The private investor just wanted to buy and
invest, without even using any public grants.
ENEA was a public tender and the sales
process started months if not years in advance.
There are lots of stories about public tenders
in Poland. Was it time consuming?
Well, the cost of sales was high. Public tenders
require certain sets of documentation, and in our
case the client did not leave any detail untouched,
which meant submitting a heavy documentation
package that required legal work in both countries.
Having said that, we are ready for more.
So your advice to other Finnish companies
regarding public tenders in Poland is to...
Reserve time, resources, local experience
and patience. You just have to take it and
even enjoy the process!
MARKUS
OVASKAINEN,
Director
of Sales
and Marketing
at Merus
Power
MERUS POWER
On the Polish
market via
EPQS
Headcount
over 170
Products
sold to over
70 countries
Sales partners
on every
continent
Listed in
Nasdaq First
North Helsinki
Main products
in Poland are
BESS and
whole power
quality
portfolio
What about managing the local partner
cooperation, what is your vision of that?
You need to create mutual trust. Doing that
requires spending time together, visiting Poland
and meeting the partner’s contacts and potential
clients, ideally even partying together. On the
other hand, the partner also needs to invest,
maybe visit Finland and get to know this side.
If the parties do not invest in the relationship,
it might simply end up being email ping-pong.
The BESS market in Poland has not seen much
action. Do you see 2026 as a big year?
Yes. There were lots of offers, but no real
investments. Now, following a huge EU grant
program (1.5 billion euro funding), the returns
are starting to be attractive for local investors.
I believe there will be big growth ahead on the
Polish BESS market. ENEA is a great reference
for us, and we have a fantastic partner, so
I think Merus will be in a good position!
38 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.adven.com
ADVEN
ENTERING POLAND:
WHY THE ENERGY FIRM IS BETTING
ON ITS BIGGEST MARKET YET
A conversation with Kristaps Greidāns, Director for Polish Market Development
ADVEN, A NORTHERN EUROPEAN ENERGY COMPANY WITH MORE THAN FIVE DECADES
OF EXPERIENCE, IS EXPANDING ITS PRESENCE ACROSS THE REGION AND HAS NOW TURNED
ITS ATTENTION TO POLAND. THE COMPANY OPERATES OVER 350 ENERGY SITES AND REPORTED
A TURNOVER OF 409 MILLION EUROS IN 2024, GIVING IT A SUBSTANTIAL OPERATIONAL BASE
AS IT ENTERS A NEW MARKET. SPONDEO SPOKE WITH KRISTAPS GREIDĀNS, DIRECTOR FOR POLISH
MARKET DEVELOPMENT, ABOUT WHY POLAND HAS BECOME A STRATEGIC PRIORITY AND WHAT
THE COMPANY HAS LEARNED DURING THE EARLY PHASE OF EXPANSION.
Looking at Adven’s geographical presence,
expansion to Poland seems natural.
It does. Poland is the strongest industrial growth
story in the region, with rising GDP, accelerating
industrialisation and one of Europe’s most coalheavy
energy mixes. With ~57% of electricity still
coming from coal and a huge base of heat-intensive
industries, the need for reliable decarbonisation
partners is obvious. Competition in Adven’s
niche is still limited, and the market aligns well
with our strengths in bio- and solid-fuel energy
and Energy as a Service models.
Did you prepare the go-to-market
for a long time? Do you have a playbook?
We invested roughly half a year into strategy
work, assessing Poland and a few adjacent markets.
There is no universal playbook: each country
has its own regulations, risk profile and customer
dynamics. Experience from the Netherlands
helped, but Poland required its own hypotheses
and a flexible approach. That adaptability has
been essential in a market that is shifting faster
than the typical energy-sector cycle.
What are the key differences in how the Polish
market works?
Scale is the biggest difference. With nearly
40 million people, Poland is effectively the size
of all our existing markets combined. It has strong
domestic companies and a largely self-contained
market. Being “present” truly means being
on the ground, meeting people and learning
how decisions are made. Language also matters:
Polish dominates even in large multinationals,
especially in technical and operational roles.
English works commercially, but real project
execution demands strong local support.
What are your takeaways from all the fieldwork?
Is it better than a consulting study?
Desk analysis is useful, but being in the room is
irreplaceable. The same themes repeat everywhere:
pressure to decarbonise heat, secure stable
supply and finding partners ready to invest. But
the market is too big to chase everything. We’ve
learned to focus – select industries, qualify opportunities
hard, and avoid spreading resources thin.
KRISTAPS
GREIDĀNS,
Director for
Polish Market
Development
at Adven
Photo:
Adven´s
steam plant
at Neste’s
Naantali
terminal
in Finland
Adven provides
industrial Energy
as a Service with
zero CAPEX and
delivery guarantees.
The company
engineers,
finances, builds
and operates
heat, steam and
utility plants for
industrial customers,
delivering
stable energy
costs, high
availability and
significant emission
reductions.
Adven takes full
responsibility
for the assets
and the results,
allowing customers
to focus
fully on their core
production while
Adven delivers
the necessities.
Do you have any tips for new entrants?
And how do Finnish and Polish business
cultures compare?
Poland is far more relationship-driven and
hierarchical than the Nordics or Baltics. Titles
matter, access to decision-makers is controlled,
and CEOs typically dominate discussions.
For companies used to the informal Nordic
culture, this is a shift. You need a sharp value
proposition, patience, respect for decision
structures and a long-term relationship mindset.
What are Adven’s plans in Poland?
The goal is to establish the first industrial sites
with new partners – targeting at least two towards
2030 – with the first operational around 2027.
From there, the aim is to scale to a meaningful
share of the industrial energy market, roughly
ten per cent within our target segments. After
the initial months here, our expectations have
only grown: Poland is now one of Adven’s most
important growth markets.
Does expansion stop with Poland?
We are sequencing growth realistically. Our priority
is strengthening existing markets while building
a solid position in Poland and a few neighbors.
Many incumbents focus on large district heating
and coal-to-gas transitions, leaving room for
a specialist serving industrial customers only.
Once we fully capture the potential in current
and nearby markets, deeper CEE steps may
follow. For now, the mission is clear: help Polish
industry move away from coal and use that experience
as a base for future expansion.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 39

SECTION 2
www.pinja.com
Sponsored article
PINJA
FROM AWARENESS TO ADOPTION
PINJA’S GROWING ROLE IN POLAND’S
BIOENERGY TRANSITION
IN 2025, PINJA EXPANDED ITS PRESENCE IN POLAND, BUILDING ON ITS EXPERTISE IN INDUSTRIAL
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND ITS STRONG POSITION IN THE EUROPEAN BIOENERGY SECTOR.
AS POLAND INCREASES ITS USE OF BIOMASS AND BIOGAS UNDER EU CLIMATE GOALS, DEMAND
FOR EFFICIENT, TRANSPARENT, AND COMPLIANT SUPPLY CHAIN SYSTEMS IS RISING – CREATING
A NATURAL FIT FOR PINJA’S SOLUTIONS.
Throughout the year, the company was focused
on promoting and localizing its cloud-based tools
for the Polish market, and on educating the sector
about the advantages of digitalization. Pinja’s
offering delivers measurable cost savings through
advanced supply chain management and operational
logistics, combined with real-time access to
critical data. This enables companies to efficiently
manage deliveries, quality, contracts, and sustainability
obligations while optimizing performance
and reducing operational costs.
Although Poland’s bioenergy industry is still at
an early stage of adopting advanced digital tools,
conversations with producers, traders and logistics
partners increasingly point to the same needs:
operational control, efficiency and reliable reporting.
In particular, GHG emissions reporting has
become a major challenge due to stricter EU and
national requirements. Pinja’s software addresses
this directly by offering structured, traceable and
compliant data management.
In 2025, Pinja presented its Nordic expertise at
the Biomass and Alternative Fuels Forum and
participated in major events such as the Spring
Forum and the Biomass and Alternative Fuels
in District Heating event. These Industry events
offer a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, from
PINJA
IN NUMBERS
500+ specialists
delivering
industrial digital
solutions
Operations
in 8 countries
30 years
of experience
in the bioenergy
sector, servicing
+400 plants
AI and industry-leading
SaaS
services for competitive
advantage
in supply chain,
industrial production,
and sustainable
business
serious technical discussions to evening networking,
and even traditional highlander dancing
during conferences in Zakopane. Alongside these
conferences, the year included numerous system
presentations, in-depth discussions and individual
meetings with Polish energy companies.
As the market evolves, interest in Pinja’s solutions
is growing. Long-standing customer Fortum Power
and Heat Polska continues to use the platform
successfully, while several other companies
are considering it. Among the barriers to market
adoption are limited openness to new tools in
smaller companies and, in some cases, a lack
of a perceived need for greater transparency.
With rising regulatory expectations and
a gradual shift toward digital ecosystems,
the Polish market is expected to be ready for
broader adoption in 2026.
This bodes well for Pinja’s future in Poland, a
sentiment backed up by Marko Kiippa, Director
of Pinja. “This year has been an exciting one for
the company, highlighted by strong growth in our
energy sector customer base and a continued
focus on creating value for stakeholders. We are
eager to sustain this momentum while reaching
new customers and exploring fresh market
opportunities.”
Biomass and Alternative
Fuels Forum in Heating,
Energy and Industry
in Zakopane, October 2025.
Photo by Andrzej Wiśniewski
40 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.peakforce.dev
www.weare.fi
WeAre
A STRONG START IN POLAND:
WHY WEARE’S MARKET-ENTRY
STRATEGY WAS ACQUISITION
SPONDEO CHATTED WITH STEFAN SUNDELL, A CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF WEARE
SOLUTIONS – A COMPANY FOR OBSERVABILITY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SOLUTIONS
– ABOUT THEIR STRATEGIC ENTRY INTO THE POLISH MARKET. AFTER EVALUATING MULTIPLE
MARKET-ENTRY PATHS, WEARE CONCLUDED THAT ACQUIRING A LOCAL COMPANY OFFERED
THE FASTEST, SAFEST, AND MOST EFFECTIVE ROUTE TO ESTABLISHING A PRESENCE IN POLAND.
How did you end up choosing acquisition
as your market-entry strategy? Were there
other options?
When we began exploring the Polish market,
we used Business Finland’s Market Explorer
funding and evaluated several paths: setting up
our own subsidiary, building a partner model,
or acquiring a company. We initially established
a subsidiary and mapped the market with support
from local experts. At the same time, WeAre’s
broader M&A process was underway, originally
focused on Finland, but later expanded to international
targets as our analysis deepened. Peakforce
quickly made our shortlist thanks to its strong
expertise, culture, and market position.
It soon became clear that an acquisition would
be the most effective and fastest way to build
a real presence in Poland. It immediately gave
us access to talent, customers, and cash flow
– resources that would take years to develop
organically. For us, acquisition is a safe accelerator
of growth, rather than a shortcut, and with
Peakforce the timing and fit were exactly right.
What are the goals following the acquisition?
Our goals work on two levels. First, we focus
on people and culture. The initial phase
is integration – aligning our operating model,
sales, HR, finance, and customer management.
We share a straightforward, customer-focused
culture with Peakforce, which gives us a strong
foundation. Still, good integration takes time,
consistency, and a hands-on approach.
The second level is growth and scale. This
acquisition is just the beginning: we are aiming
to expand in Poland and to make Peakforce
WeAre’s key foothold in Northern Europe.
We already have a clear scaling roadmap that
we will be implementing step by step after
integration. In short, this acquisition is a significant
milestone in our international journey – not
the final destination, but a strong start.
What does the Polish market look like?
Did you explore any other CEE countries?
We carried out an in-depth assessment
of the Polish market long before the acquisition,
and the further we progressed, the more attractive
it looked. Poland offers a rare mix of strong
talent, competitive costs, a mature IT ecosystem,
WIKTOR
DYNGOSZ,
Founder
of Peakforce,
together with
RAMI RANTALA,
CEO of WeAre
Solutions,
following
the signing
of the acquisition
agreement
in Warsaw
TIPS FOR ENTE-
RING THE POLISH
MARKET
Use
Business Finland,
and trusted local
partners
like Spondeo;
Be ready
for a fast, competitive
market;
Make
decisions quickly
– it’s valued;
And most of all:
start early;
waiting rarely
helps.
and growing demand for our
capabilities. The collaboration
culture is also direct and
efficient, which makes doing
business easier. We backed up
our analysis with insights from
Business Finland, Spondeo,
and local experts. While we
certainly evaluated several other
countries in Northern and
Central Europe, Poland clearly stood out in both
market potential and skill level. Strategically, it also
serves as an ideal gateway to the rest of Europe,
which reinforced our decision.
Were there any surprises along the way?
We avoided any major surprises because we
prepared thoroughly – investing time in understanding
the market, choosing the right partners,
and negotiating the acquisition. One small
but memorable detail was the notary process:
in Poland, the notary must read contracts aloud
during the signing. Sitting in Warsaw listening
to the agreements being read out in Polish was
a unique moment and a reminder that we are operating
on another country’s terms, not our own.
Are there differences in business cultures?
Yes, but mostly in a positive way. The Polish
business culture is very direct – people say things
clearly, work fast, and raise concerns immediately,
with little need to read between the lines. This
suits us well. Another point is the widespread
sole-proprietor model in the IT sector. It’s efficient,
but in an acquisition it requires careful handling
of employment and tax agreements. With
the right advisors, this part also went smoothly.
How would you sum up this phase
of your international expansion?
Poland has been a carefully planned and
well-executed market entry for us. Acquisition
proved to be the most effective way to establish
our presence – it lowered risk, accelerated our
growth, and immediately brought us a strong
team, solid revenue, and established customer
relationships. Peakforce is just the beginning
of WeAre’s international journey, but it’s a milestone
we’re genuinely proud of and a foundation
we’re excited to build on.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 41

SECTION 2
www.feelhobby.pl
FEELHOBBY
FEELHOBBY’S FIRST STEPS
IN POLAND
THE PATH OF EUROPE’S DIGITAL GROWTH IS ANYTHING BUT STRAIGHTFORWARD. WHILE
MANY SCALE-UPS JUMP FROM WESTERN EUROPE STRAIGHT TO THE US, SUBSCRIPTION-VIDEO-
-ON-DEMAND NEWCOMER FEELHOBBY IS CHOOSING A DIFFERENT ROUTE – THE COMPANY
CHOSE POLAND AS ITS FIRST FOREIGN MARKET! AFTER BUILDING A LOYAL AUDIENCE AT HOME
WITH ITS LOCAL WELLNESS PLATFORM, FEELHOBBY IS MAKING A CALCULATED, DATA-BACKED
MOVE INTO POLAND, BETTING ON A MARKET HUNGRY FOR TAILORED DIGITAL WELLNESS.
The core of FeelHobby’s strategy – to deliver
high-quality fitness and mindfulness content in
the native language, complete with powerful
community features – is a direct challenge to
the often generic, English-centric global players.
For the founders, Mirva Putro and Henri-Aleksi
Pietiläinen, the move into Poland is about
a deeper, more human form of market fit.
“We were looking for a large, wellness-aware
market where we could make an impact fast,
and Poland stood out,” CEO, Henri-Aleksi
explained. While the digital wellness category
in Poland is growing fast, it remains comparatively
HENRI-ALEKSI
PIETILÄINEN,
CEO
of FeelHobby
open to local challengers compared to the
saturated Western European markets. Crucially,
the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
in the Polish segment is already approaching
Finnish levels, signaling a high consumer willingness-to-pay
for premium, targeted services.
“It made sense to start scaling here before jumping
into more saturated markets,” the CEO said.
“It was a clear combination of scale, timing, and
potential. It’s also a natural hub for future Central
and Eastern European expansion.” The story of
FeelHobby’s launch is marked by a clever move
– the founders made a commitment to the market
by relocating to Warsaw for seven intensive
weeks. “Real growth doesn’t happen
remotely. You start to feel the market
in your bones: how people think, how
they discover new products, how they
build trust. That kind of learning doesn’t
happen online.”
The CEO is clear in recommending
this approach for new market entries:
“You need to be close to your customer
and iterate fast. It’s not just about
being local. It’s about listening, reacting,
and staying sharp.” “We love the mix of
straight-talking and warmth. Polish people
are direct, but if you show up genuinely
they’ll open the door wide.”
For the next three years the vision is clear:
“We aim to be the leading digital wellness
studio in multiple European markets
helping millions of people feel better,
in their own language, every day.”
FeelHobby team
42 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.flovi.io
FLOVI
FLOVI IS BUILDING EUROPE’S
FASTEST-SCALING VEHICLE LOGISTICS
PLATFORM
Spondeo spoke with Mark Weijers, Chief Marketing Officer at Flovi
FLOVI IS RAPIDLY RESHAPING VEHICLE LOGISTICS IN FINLAND, SWEDEN AND POLAND BY ADDRESSING
A COSTLY INDUSTRY PROBLEM: EVERY DAY A CAR SITS IN THE WRONG PLACE IT COSTS MONEY.
THE COMPANY MOVES VEHICLES WITHIN HOURS DOMESTICALLY, AND WITHIN DAYS ACROSS BORDERS.
In 2024, Flovi transported more than 110,000
vehicles and is on track for a revenue of
17 million euros. Its AI-powered platform
connects road, rail and sea into one seamless
system, helping rental companies improve
fleet utilisation and enabling faster inventory
turnover for car dealers. By 2028, Flovi aims
to lead the European market, operate
in 10 countries, and exceed 100 million
euros in revenue.
MARK
WEIJERS,
Chief
Marketing
Officer
at Flovi
ad hoc solutions or long waits for truck transport.
We can shorten that to a single day, while
short-distance moves will be handled within hours.
You’ve invested in key hires. How important
are those first people?
They’re critical and set the tone for the whole
market – from operations to customer experience.
Relevant knowledge matters, but a strong growth
mindset matters even more.
Poland is Flovi’s third foreign market.
What made it the next choice?
Were other countries considered?
Poland was the natural next step for us.
As Finland’s largest tech company focused on car
relocations, our ambition is to become Europe’s
leading player, and Poland offers the right
conditions: a fast-growing economy, long internal
distances, a large used-car market and almost
1.5 million cars registered in 2024. Given
its demand for flexible, technology-driven car
logistics, our market research placed Poland
as the best market for Flovi the next expansion
– ahead of Germany, France, and others.
From a go-to-market perspective, you are doing
many things by the book, meaning you must
have a great playbook for new markets.
What are your key principles when entering
a new country?
Our starting point is always thorough market
research. We want to understand whether there
is a strong product-market fit and whether
the market supports Flovi’s long-term growth
ambitions. The core question remains simple:
can our service deliver clear, measurable value
to customers in that country? If so, we move
forward.
What did you learn from the Swedish expansion,
and how does the Polish market differ?
In Poland, the biggest challenge is habit: car
relocations have long been handled manually.
We see that as an opportunity as we’ve shown
in other countries that the shift to digital,
on-demand relocations is absolutely possible.
With the Flovi platform, customers get the best
combination of speed and price, whether moving
cars within a city or across the country. Poland’s
consolidating automotive sector and long distances
between major cities allow us to demonstrate
our full capabilities. Today, companies rely on
Flovi moves cars
fast, smooth, and
cost-effective for
car dealerships,
car rental
and leasing
providers, and
car-sharing
platforms
Is it easy to do business in Poland?
With operational preparations already in full swing
for months, we had a week full of in-person
meetings with customers based in Kraków,
Warsaw, Gdańsk and Wrocław. With at least
2 meetings per day and 4-hour transfers between
cities, this was quite an interesting logistical
exercise and gave us a better feel for the routes
our driver partners now cover daily. Add to that
a steady diet of great Polish food and open,
insightful discussions with customers, and
we learned a lot about the market and local
business culture.
A surprisingly heartwarming moment was
the reaction from the Polish community in Finland
– many expressed real pride that Poland was
Flovi’s third country.
Of course, every market has its own rules
and processes and some were slower or more
complicated than we’re used to.
Opening a bank account turned out
to be harder than expected.
What would you recommend to newcomers
entering the market?
Hire local talent as early as possible. It makes
a huge difference when navigating cultural,
linguistic and regulatory nuances.
And where do you see Flovi Poland in the next
one or two years – how many other markets
will be open by then?
Our goal is to start with a solid foundation
by working with leading automotive players
and investing in strong customer experience
and scalable tech. This is ultimately a volume
business, which means thousands of relocations
per month. Typically it takes one to two years
for a new market to reach profitability,
but by 2028, Flovi aims to operate in ten countries
and become Europe’s number one choice
for vehicle relocations.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 43

SECTION 2
www.yit.pl
Sponsored article
YIT IN POLAND 2025:
A YEAR OF GROWTH, NEW LEADERSHIP,
AND CELEBRATING THE FIRST DECADE
THE YEAR 2025 STANDS AS A LANDMARK PERIOD FOR THE FINNISH DEVELOPER YIT IN THE POLISH
MARKET. MARKING ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY IN THE COUNTRY, THE COMPANY SUCCESSFULLY
MAINTAINED ITS GROWTH PACE, APPOINTED NEW STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, AND SOLIDIFIED ITS
POSITION AS ONE OF THE LEADING URBAN DEVELOPERS IN POLAND. YIT ENTERED 2025 WITH A
STREAMLINED OPERATIONAL MODEL, IN WHICH POLAND BECAME A CORNERSTONE OF THE NEWLY
ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL CEE SEGMENT. THIS STRUCTURAL SHIFT WAS DESIGNED TO SYNCHRO-
NIZE OPERATIONS ACROSS CEE, ALLOWING FOR FASTER SCALING OF RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS.
Another major headline for YIT was the appointment
of Leszek Stankiewicz as President of the
Management Board (CEO) of YIT Development
in Poland, effective 9 April 2025. Bringing over
25 years of senior management experience –
including a long tenure at Dom Development
– Stankiewicz was recruited to strengthen YIT’s
operational excellence and brand recognition
in the Polish market. He has emphasized that
his mission is to implement “Finnish standards”
of stability and ethics while scaling YIT’s
presence and growth in Poland.
In August 2025, the company announced another
key appointment, when Justyna Filipczak started
as Executive Vice President for the Residential
CEE segment and became a member of the YIT
Group Management Team. Under her guidance,
YIT has reinforced its commitment to customer-centric
design and resilience in the Central
and Eastern Europe region.
The year 2025 was also YIT’s 10th anniversary
in Poland. Since its entry in 2015, YIT has evolved
from a newcomer into a major player known for
bringing “Nordic quality” to the Polish landscape.
The anniversary communication marked 10 years
of YIT Poland’s presence on the Polish market and
provided an opportunity to summarize a decade
of dynamic growth. Over this period, YIT has delivered
more than 2,600 residential units in three
major Polish cities – Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk
– building a strong and recognizable footprint in
the local real estate sector.
The anniversary also emphasized YIT’s residential
philosophy, expressed through the “More Life in
Yards by YIT” concept, which focuses on creating
vibrant, people-centered living environments and
high-quality shared spaces that support everyday
life and community building.
Alongside its ambitious development plans,
YIT has strengthened its operational capabilities.
In 2025, the company established YIT Construction,
a dedicated general contractor that is
already delivering its first projects for YIT in Poland,
reinforcing execution efficiency and quality control
across investments. At the same time, YIT is intensifying
its geographical expansion, with Wrocław
becoming a key new market alongside its established
presence in Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk.
Celebration of YIT’s 10th anniversary in Poland
The year 2025 also saw YIT diversifying its
technical and engineering expertise, with
a growing focus on protective and shelter construction.
Responding to rising safety and resilience
requirements, the company began transferring
Nordic civil defence know-how to the Polish
market, drawing on decades of experience
gained in Finland. At the same time, YIT continued
to strengthen its position as a strategic partner
within the Polish data center ecosystem,
leveraging this expertise to deliver high-tech,
energy-efficient, and mission-critical infrastructure
for the digital economy.
Looking ahead to 2026, YIT aims to actively
develop its shelter construction offering in Poland,
supported by a strategic partnership agreement
signed early in the year with Verona Shelters,
laying the groundwork for innovative, compliant,
and resilient construction solutions.

SECTION 3
BUSINESS SUPPORT
COMPANIES IN
THE POLISH MARKET
When Spondeo asked for advice
for Finnish companies that might be
thinking about entering the Polish market,
several managers of Finnish-Polish
businesses emphasized the importance
of having a strong support
network in Poland. This section comprises
articles and interviews with
experts boasting years of experience
in helping Nordic companies to enter
and expand in the Polish market.
The provided insights cover a wide
array of industries, including logistics,
law, recruitment, accounting, finance,
software development and production.
Leszek Tasiemski, Vice President at WithSecure
– the Finnish cybersecurity company – joined
The Hero Workshop facilitated by Grupa
Ratownictwa PCK Poznań. Together with
WithSecure, the team delivered an engaging
First Aid session in English, covering CPR, AED
use, choking response, and stroke recognition.
Photo by Grupa Ratownictwa PCK Poznań
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 45

SECTION 3
www.leinonen.eu/pl
Sponsored article
LEINONEN
THE YEAR AHEAD IN THE POLISH
ACCOUNTING LANDSCAPE
Spondeo CEO Tuomas Asunmaa spoke with Maria Onikki-Górski about the accounting landscape
and Finnish companies in Poland, exploring the major changes coming for the upcoming year.
LEINONEN IS THE ONLY FINNISH-OWNED MAJOR ACCOUNTING FIRM IN POLAND. WITH A TEAM
OF OVER 30 PROFESSIONALS IN THE WARSAW OFFICE ALONE, THE COMPANY IS WELL POSITIONED
TO SERVE NORDIC CLIENTS IN THE POLISH MARKET. THE GROUP OPERATES IN 11 COUNTRIES:
THE NORDICS, THE BALTICS, POLAND, HUNGARY, BULGARIA, UKRAINE AND KAZAKHSTAN.
This year has seen a remarkable change
among Finnish companies. It seems like the
image of Poland has taken a big step forward,
is this visible at your work?
It certainly seems that Finns have discovered
Poland. This year (2025), we have seen more
movement, new companies, investments and
M&As. We have also been very busy serving other
foreign companies, as the Baltics are a natural
“extension” to the Nordics, as well as multinationals
who are looking for local partners.
If the business side was lively, was the
regulation side a bit quieter in 2025?
Well, not really! There are lots of changes coming
up, so it was a year of preparing for changes
coming in 2026 changes. For example, although
the new SAF-T CIT regulation comes into force in
2027, companies must have the structure ready
from January 2026.
And the coming year will finally be the year
of KSeF! Are companies ready?
It depends. It is certainly easier for those
clients who do their accounting in the system
we use at Leinonen (Enova365), or big
companies that have very advanced workflow
processes and localization packages in place.
But for those companies we do accounting
for in their group ERPs, there is more work to
do and the updates are often expensive. One
major change is that all invoices need to be sent
and picked up from KSeF one way or another.
These changes mean that the authorities will
receive the information first, even before your
business partner, so they have an almost
real-time view of taxes and invoices.
We will see from February onwards how
all of this works out!
Right, the regulation changes take time
and effort, so you probably spend a lot of
time explaining them?
We sure do, which is why our latest blog
posting explains the complications of the
Polish tax system – what makes it demanding.
However, it is challenging to compare certain
elements of the Polish tax system to that
of Finland, or even the Baltics. Poland has
a long list of requirements that simply do
not exist in other countries.
MARIA ONIKKI
-GÓRSKI,
Operational
Director
for Central
Europe
at Leinonen
5 DIFFERENCES
FROM THE FINNISH
ACCOUNTING
SYSTEM:
But changes happen rapidly, when they start!
Yes, and in many ways Poland is ahead of other
big countries, including Germany, when it comes
to digitalization in accounting.
Are these changes increasing prices in the
sector? In general, accounting services seem
to be more expensive than in Finland, which
is often surprising.
Indirectly maybe that’s the case. During the
implementation period, there will certainly
be more work until everything is running
smoothly. In the longer run, the changes are
more likely to boost automation. Accounting
rates are more expensive than in Finland because
many things simply could not be automated
in Poland. There are also lots of new demands
placed on the software, so their prices are
increasing due to the development work.
The PLN/EUR
exchange rate is
from the National
Bank of Poland,
not from the ECB.
Corporate
Income Tax is
generally paid on
a monthly basis.
Sales invoices
must have three
dates and they
do not have
a standard layout.
The payroll
system is rather
complicated.
There are split payments for VAT.
46 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Sponsored article
warsaw-law@ecovislegal.pl
www.ecovis.com www.ecovislegal.com
ECOVIS LEGAL POLAND
TRUSTED LOCAL PARTNER
FOR TENS OF FINNISH INVESTORS
ECOVIS LEGAL POLAND IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED LAW FIRM OFFERING LEGAL ADVICE FOR MORE
THAN 20 YEARS. THE TEAM HAS A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING WITH TENS OF FINNISH INVESTMENTS,
FROM IT, PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES TO M&A’ S. ECOVIS PARTNER PIOTR PRUŚ TOLD US HOW FOREIGN
INVESTORS CAN STRUCTURE THEIR POLISH ENTITIES EFFECTIVELY, THE ROLE AND COMPOSITION
OF SUPERVISORY BOARDS, AND THE KEY LEGAL CHANGES COMING TO POLAND NEXT YEAR.
Investors entering Poland want to adopt
an optimal corporate structure for their entities
in Poland. What tips do you have for them?
A limited liability company is the most popular
legal vehicle for investments. An LLC is flexible
and allows the adoption of various different
approaches. This legal form can be used by
stand-alone subsidiaries or just production
units within a group. The owners can shape
the internal regulations of a limited liability
company to meet their needs and their
planned activities in Poland.
What are your recommendations in terms
of corporate bodies?
For some investments, the simplest corporate
structure is enough. For instance, if your
subsidiary in Poland is only going to be
a production unit in the group, then a management
board is enough – as long as you have
good internal controlling solutions giving an
overview of the local company.
In the case of more complex investments,
the structure should be more sophisticated.
Usually, when an investor plans to develop
a stand-alone company locally in Poland, it
has to hire a c-level local manager, or assign
c-level duties to one of the group managers
in Poland.
In this environment, we would generally
recommended introducing a second corporate
level in the Polish company by introducing
a supervisory board,
What is the point in having a supervisory
board? What are the tasks and powers
of this corporate body?
The supervisory board serves as the body
to which the management board reports.
It is a forum for direct contact between members
of the management board and representatives
of the owners, or specialists chosen by the
owners. There are a range of options when it
comes to entrusting a supervisory board with
powers. They can follow statutory standards
in which the supervisory board is mainly
responsible for general supervisory activities
and verifying the annual statements of the
company. Alternatively, it can also be given
the power to directly control the management
board and consent to various actions it takes.
In my view, however, the powers of the
supervisory board should be tailored taking
Partners
of Ecovis Legal
Poland
in account the size of theinvestment, the composition
of the board as well as the ownership
structure. It is important not to give the supervisory
board too much power and create a kind
of super-board.
What are your insights on best practices regarding
the composition of a supervisory board?
For me, the supervisory board should consist
of the owners’ representatives, industry experts
and even an independent consultant or advisor
who is an expert in the local business and
regulatory environment. Such a composition
allows the supervisory board to operate
efficiently and smoothly. This is also my experience
with Finnish companies in Poland, as
I chair the supervisory board of Miilux Poland,
where the other members are – Pekka
Miilukangas, one of the group owners, along
with Ari Haapakoski, his trusted business advisor.
Now let’s change to another topic.
What is new in Polish law for next year?
The most impactful change will certainly
be the introduction of KSeF (the mandatory
e-invoicing system). On the one hand, it will
give the authorities more extensive control
overinvoicing; on the other hand, it will cause
companies extra effort and costs. The big
question mark is also reform strengthening
the supervision of labour inspection over B2B
contracts, which may have lasting effects
on certain businesses in Poland, especially
IT services.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 47

SECTION 3
www.htlaser.fi
Sponsored article
HT LASER
15 YEARS OF PRECISION
AND QUALITY
HT LASER POLAND WILL CELEBRATE ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2026. TODAY, THE POZNAŃ
FACTORY EMPLOYS NEARLY 90 HEAVY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS IN OVER 6,000 m2 OF
FACILITIES. IN A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH SPONDEO, JUHA SAVOLAINEN – A LONG-TRUSTED
AUTHORITY IN THE PRODUCTION SECTOR – OFFERED HIS INSIGHTS INTO THE COMPANY’S
CONTINUED GROWTH AND DIRECTION.
You are operating at full steam now, it seems
the demand is back in the industry.
Yes, our order books are pretty full, with a high
level of incoming RFQs as well. Metal sector
companies and subcontractors are doing fine
right now in Poland. Though unfortunately, this
does have a significant impact on lead times
in every sector.
What sectors is demand coming from, and
are the Polish defence and infrastructure
investments visible in your work?
Demand has grown significantly in general.
Defence and railway sector clients are currently
very active and that means growth for us too.
Of course, our main sources of work are the
heavy industry, machinery and marine sectors,
which also recovered from weaker times. As you
mentioned, domestic demand is increasing, but
we ship 90% of our ready production outside
of Poland, mainly to Nordic countries and more
and more to Germany.
In this kind of situation, what are your main
focuses as leader of the factory and the unit?
I am always focused on serving the established
clients exceptionally well and maintaining those
valuable relationships. In times of high demand
and strict timelines, we also need to put extra effort
JUHA
SAVOLAINEN,
CEO at
HT Laser
STILL HERE,
SO WE MUST
HAVE DONE
SOMETHING
RIGHT.
”
into keeping the quality of our work high. Of course,
we are negotiating with several big and attractive
clients to ensure growth. Although it would be
tempting to offer more, the old wisdom still applies
– don’t bite off more than you can chew.
This market overview sounds like labor issues
might still be the TOP challenge?
That is true. It is still difficult to find high quality
welders, especially in the heart of a big city.
We use rented workers too, but try to hire all
the available good local ones instantly. When it
comes to qualified welders and CNC operators,
it is an employee market, but in some other production
positions it is easier to fill the labor needs.
And what are the main wishes for 2026?
In our case, we are reaching the limit of our
current capacity. You can read between the lines
as to whether that might mean new production
facilities. In any case, some significant changes
need to be made to ensure controlled growth.
Is a 15th-anniversary celebration on the horizon?
We marked our 10th anniversary in style :) and
we’re certainly planning something big and festive
next year. It will also be my own 10-year milestone
with the company and in Poland. There are lots
of reasons to celebrate :)
48 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.spondeo.pl
SPONDEO’S
MARKET PULSE:
LABOR MARKET TRENDS BY SPONDEO’S HEADHUNTER WERONIKA GIDEL-ASUNMAA
In 2025, Poland’s labor market stayed pretty
steady. The registered unemployment was
slightly higher than in 2024, standing at 5.6%
at the end of the year. Salaries are still growing
relatively fast, around 7% year-on-year, though
the pace is no longer double digit. The average
gross salary in the enterprise sector in November
2025 crossed the PLN 9,000 milestone for
the first time in history.
When it comes to the job market, the final quarter
of 2025 confirmed a recognisable “recruitment
freeze” – a drop in job offers – in lower-skilled sectors,
contrasted by a desperate search for certain
specialists. The average time it took to find a new
job reached nearly 4.5 months – a full 1.5 months
longer than the previous year. In many sectors
and regions it has been an employers’ market.
CHANGES IN 2026 INCLUDE:
The EU Pay Transparency Directive
1. – employers are now legally required to
provide salary ranges in job ads or prior to the
first interview. In many cases previously, companies
entering the Polish market were asking
candidates for their expected salary and then
adjusting the level, this will no longer be the case.
The minimum wage increased by
2. PLN 140 /3%, reaching PLN 4,806 gross
(about EUR 1,140).
Deficits remain critical in construction and
3. manufacturing (welders, masons, technicians),
as well as in medical and specialised
technical roles. Companies faced difficulties
finding the right sales managers
If the war ends in 2026, it will mess up the
4. job market – 1/3 of working Ukrainians in
Poland said they will leave the country, meaning
a sudden loss of over 300,000 employees
In 2026, employee benefits are getting a
5. complete makeover. Instead of one-size-fitsall
packages, companies are offering perks tailored
to each employee’s lifestyle, career stage, and
family needs – making benefits more personal and
more valuable. Health, mental well-being, opportunities
to rest, and a supportive, partnership-based
approach to employees will remain top priorities.
WERONIKA
GIDEL-ASUNMAA,
Co-founder
and Headhunter
at Spondeo
WHERE WERE WE HIRING LAST YEAR?
During 2025, our team responded
to our customer’s needs and successfully
executed headhunting projects
in Ukraine, Sweden, the Czech Republic
and Slovakia.
WHAT SURPRISED US
IN THE LABOR MARKET IN 2025?
Plenty of good people were available
Salary expectations were more moderate
(less open jobs available)
Salaries continued to grow by 6-7%,
despite inflation dropping below 3%
Continued group layoffs, both publicly
announced and “silent”
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE POLISH AND CEE MARKET
OR YOUR RECRUITMENT NEEDS, I’M HERE TO HELP! JUST SEND AN EMAIL:
WERONIKA@SPONDEO.FI
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 49

SECTION 3
www.bilans.poznan.pl
Sponsored article
BILANS
THREE DECADES OF TRUST: HOW TO COMBINE
FAMILY VALUES WITH MODERN ACCOUNTING
AGATA
ŚMIDOWICZ,
Business
Co-owner
at Bilans
One of the oldest tax advisory firms in Poland,
Bilans is a family-run accounting firm from
Poznań, combining long-standing values with
modern technology. Spondeo spoke with the
team about growth, international clients and
advice for newcomers to Poland.
Bilans is a second-generation company,
how would you summarize its story?
Bilans is a family-run accounting office with over
30 years of tradition, now being led by the second
generation. Over the years, we have grown to
be one of Poznań’s most trusted and modern
accounting firms. Our mission is simple: we take
care of our clients’ finances so they have peace
of mind, financial security, and time to focus
on their own business.
How is the company doing today? Do you
serve both Polish and foreign companies?
Today, Bilans is a dynamic, technology-driven
accounting office with more than 20 experienced
experts working in five specialist teams. We serve
over 400 clients, including both Polish and international
companies. Our services are provided in English
and we have extensive experience supporting
foreign businesses entering or operating in Poland.
Since you have a good deal of Finnish
clients as well, how is it working with them?
Working with Finnish clients is always
a positive experience. Finnish companies
appreciate transparency, efficiency, and clear
communication – values that align closely
with our own. One of the most common
surprises for Finnish entrepreneurs is the
complexity and frequency of regulatory
changes in Poland, as well as the detailed
documentation required.
In general, what advice would you give
to a newcomer on the Polish market?
Our advice is to invest in understanding the local
business environment and regulations, which
can be quite dynamic and sometimes complex.
Partnering with a reliable local advisor is essential
in order to stay compliant. We also recommend
embracing digital tools and AI solutions. Perhaps
most important is to not to worry about asking
questions!
www.ahopeltonordic.com
AHOPELTO NORDIC
A STRATEGIC MOVE INTO POLAND
Founded in 2021 by Finnish logistics
professional Henri Ahopelto, Ahopelto
Nordic has grown rapidly from a small start
-up to a global freight-forwarding company.
Built on highly personalised customer service
and a team of experienced specialists,
the company now serves clients around
the world. Although Ahopelto Nordic has
worked with Polish business from the very
beginning – having both employees
and clients connected to Poland – the official
Polish office was opened in 2025, marking
an important next step in the company’s
development.
In 2025 you decided to enter the Polish
market by opening a local entity?
Yes. We officially launched in Poland in August
with the establishment of our local subsidiary.
Our Country Manager, Wojtek – who had already
been working with Ahopelto for some time before
taking on this role – is now based in Warsaw.
Two additional team members also work regularly
with the Polish market. Poland is already very
important for the Group, as around 30% of the road
traffic handled by Ahopelto offices comes from
CEE countries, with Poland-Finland traffic making
up a significant share of this volume.
Our goal for 2026 is to hire several more people
and to continue growing.
So the main focus is Poland-Finland freight?
Yes and no. The Polish unit supports the
Poland-Finland corridor, but its role is much
broader. We also handle import-exports between
Poland and other regions, such as India, Asia
in general and the United States. We operate
globally and Poland is very much part of that
network, not an isolated branch.
Was opening a business in Poland straightforward
from a formal perspective?
Not exactly. In Poland you need a license that
is relatively costly, a certain amount of capital
in a bank account, specific insurance, a background
check for company owners, and a certified
transport manager with proper training. Compared
to markets like the Czech Republic or Finland,
the process is more bureaucratic, but once you
go through it the first time, it becomes routine.
Poland is a major European logistics hub.
How do you see the competitive landscape?
It’s a huge opportunity because production
volumes are massive. But competition is brutal.
You really have to be cost-competitive with local
players, while still offering a high-quality service.
It’s all about finding the right balance and building
good partnerships.
HENRI
AHOPELTO,
Founder
of Ahopelto
Nordic
50 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Sponsored article
www.rebuildukraine.in.ua/en
REBUILD UKRAINE
FINNISH BUSINESS IN UKRAINE:
STEADY STEPS AMID CHALLENGING TIMES
DESPITE THE ONGOING WAR, 2025 MARKED QUIET BUT MEANINGFUL PROGRESS FOR FINNISH
BUSINESSES IN UKRAINE. WHILE THE MARKET REMAINS COMPLEX, SEVERAL COMPANIES MADE
ADVANCES THAT SIGNAL CONFIDENCE AND LONG-TERM COMMITMENT. THESE STEPS ARE
EXPECTED TO LEAD TO BROADER ACTIVITY IN COMING YEARS. WE SPOKE WITH HENRI RIIHIMÄKI,
COUNSELLOR AT FINLAND’S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND HEAD OF THE EMBASSY’S
COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT IN KYIV, WHO WILL BECOME CEO OF EASTCHAM IN EARLY 2026.
When you look back at 2025, what were the
biggest achievements by Finnish companies
in Ukraine?
Two milestones clearly stand out: the opening of
new facilities by Hesburger, the Finnish fast-food
chain, and Peikko, a global supplier of construction
materials. Both invested several million euros
into the Ukrainian market. Beyond these, many
Finnish companies have been exploring opportunities,
so we expect more concrete steps in 2026.
Is there a reference case you consider a model
example for Finland?
Since Finnish companies have historically operated
on a smaller scale in Ukraine, the best
playbook cases actually come from Sweden.
One strong example is Beetroot, an IT company
that entered Ukraine in 2013 and built a highly
successful outsourcing operation. It shows what
is possible with a clear strategy and long-term
commitment.
Are there smaller or lesser-known Finnish
companies that could inspire others?
The greatest potential often lies in mid-sized
businesses where the entrepreneur is involved
personally. Ukraine requires taking calculated
risks, so having an owner-driven management
team makes it easier to make bold decisions
and navigate the uncertainty.
HENRI RIIHIMÄKI,
Counsellor
at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
of Finland and
Head of the
Embassy’s
commercial
department in Kyiv
The 6th edition
of Rebuild Ukraine
will take place
on 12-13 November
2026
Any words of caution?
Check your customer’s background carefully.
Avoid unclear ownership structures and suspicious
intermediaries. Proper due diligence
is essential in Ukraine.
You have lived in Kyiv for several years.
What has become your favorite spot or insight
about the city?
Kyiv lives a full cultural life, despite the war.
For international residents, the city offers
a surprising richness in leisure, food and culture.
The area around the Arsenalna metro station
is particularly vibrant, with strong culinary talent
and a creative atmosphere that reflects Kyiv’s
resilience.
What would be your main tips for companies
considering market entry?
Do your homework thoroughly. Understand the
market, the sector-specific rules, and – very
importantly – the financial instruments available
to support entry. Having clarity on financing and
guarantees can make the difference between
a viable and a stalled project.
ABOUT REBUILD UKRAINE
The 5th ReBuild Ukraine exhibition and conference was held in
Warsaw in November. The event connects Ukrainian municipalities
and businesses with global partners, investors, and institutions.
The intention is to drive Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction in infrastructure,
energy, housing, and industry by showcasing projects,
solutions, and investment opportunities. This year, around 40 Finnish
companies joined the ReBuild Ukraine expo, showcasing their offer
and meeting potential partners in Ukraine and in the CEE. Spondeo
founder Tuomas Asunmaa joined the conference again to talk to
people and find out what’s new in Finnish-Ukrainian relations.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 51

SECTION 3
www.finnlines.com
FINNLINES
A YEAR OF GROWTH, NEW ROUTES
AND FORWARD-LOOKING INVESTMENTS
AFTER CELEBRATING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE ŚWINOUJŚCIE–MALMÖ CONNECTION, FINNLINES
MOVED THROUGH 2025 WITH NEW ROUTES, ADVANCED VESSELS AND A GROWING PRESENCE
IN POLISH PORTS, WITH SERVICES OPERATING ACROSS THE BALTIC SEA, THE NORTH SEA AND THE
BAY OF BISCAY. AS A KEY MEMBER OF THE GRIMALDI GROUP – GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER
IN RO-RO SHIPPING AND EUROPE’S LARGEST OPERATOR OF THE MOTORWAYS OF THE SEA – FINN-
LINES BENEFITS FROM AN EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK. THROUGH THIS AFFILIATION,
THE COMPANY OFFERS SEAMLESS LINER CONNECTIONS LINKING NORTHERN EUROPE WITH DESTI-
NATIONS THROUGHOUT THE MEDITERRANEAN, WEST AFRICA, THE AMERICAS, ASIA, AND AUSTRALIA.
In the strategic, often-challenging waters of the
Baltic Sea with critical trade flows, the Finlandbased
shipping giant Finnlines is quietly executing
a strategic expansion with Poland at its core. This
is not the story of a mere service upgrade; it is
a calculated move to redefine Poland’s role as
an important bridge in Europe’s north-south
logistics corridor.
Recent years have been marked by steady
expansion and notable milestones for Finnlines,
particularly in Poland and the wider Baltic region.
The Świnoujście-Malmö ro-pax connection
launched in April 2024, and has now completed
its first full year of operation, becoming firmly established
on the market. Daily departures in both
directions have supported freight flows, private
travel and professional drivers, while upgraded
port facilities in Świnoujście and Malmö have
improved the passenger experience and operational
efficiency. Despite geopolitical uncertainties
in the region, volumes have met expectations,
with summer seasons showing strong passenger
demand and growing interest from group
travelers.
In June 2025, Finnlines further strengthened its
presence in Poland by adding the Port of Gdynia
to its weekly North Sea and Biscay service
rotation. This development enhances links from
Poland to Belgium, France, the UK, Ireland,
Spain and Finland, offering a practical intermodal
alternative to long road transport. The service is
RAFAŁ
KWAPISZ,
Managing
Director
of Finnlines
Poland.
38%
Year-on-year growth
in passenger numbers
on Finnlines’ route
between Świnoujście
and Malmö in summer
2025.
The Sweden–
Poland connection
serves
both freight and
passenger traffic,
supporting trade,
logistics, and
tourism across
the Baltic Sea region.
The ro-pax
vessel operating
on the Sweden–
Poland route
provides smooth
connections to
Świnoujście and
the Western Pomeranian
region
in Poland, as well
as to Malmö in
Sweden and
further to Skåne,
Denmark, and
Norway.
handled by modern hybrid vessels equipped with
air-lubrication systems, battery banks and solar
panels, enabling zero-emission port calls. New
80-foot Mafis broaden transport options for
oversized and specialized cargo, underscoring
the strategic role Gdynia now plays in Finnlines’
European network.
Looking ahead, the company has placed an order
for three Ro-Pax (Roll-on/Roll-off and passenger)
vessels scheduled for delivery between
2028 and 2029. These next-generation ships will
operate on the Germany-Finland route, while
the released capacity is expected to reinforce
other Baltic connections, including Świnoujście-Malmö.
The investment signals continued
confidence in long-term demand across the
region and in the Polish market’s growing role
in north-south logistics.
“Finnlines’ expansion in Poland reflects the country’s
growing strategic importance in the Baltic
region. Poland’s strong and resilient economy,
supported by a highly educated and skilled
workforce with increasing purchasing power,
creates an ideal environment for long-term
investment. In addition, Poland is set to play
a central role in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction,
further elevating its regional significance.
Together, these factors make Poland a key hub
in Finnlines’ broader growth strategy and future
development initiatives.” said Rafał Kwapisz,
Managing Director at Finnlines Polska.
FINNLINES’ OPERATIONS
TO AND FROM POLAND
Gdynia–Hanko: A ro-ro freight
service operating six times per
week between Poland and Finland.
Świnoujście–Malmö: A daily
ro-pax service carrying both freight
and passengers between Poland
and Sweden.
North Sea & Biscay: A weekly
ro-ro freight service connecting
Poland with Belgium, France,
the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Finland.
52 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Sponsored article
www.polarnightsoftware.com
henri@polarnightsoftware.com
POLAR NIGHT SOFTWARE
SENIOR EXPERTISE SHAPING POLAND’S IT
AND NEARSHORING LANDSCAPE
Polar Night Software offers software development
and nearshoring services straight from
Łódź. The Polar Night team comprises mainly
senior developers with over 10 years of experience
across modern backend, frontend, cloud,
and AI/ML technologies. Spondeo CEO Tuomas
Asunmaa spoke with the founder of Polar Night
Software, Henri Jääskeläinen, about the local IT
and nearshoring market in 2025.
It is no secret that the IT sector demand side
has not reached peak levels, but are there any
sectors you have focused on lately?
Yes, the situation on the demand and labor
market fronts are more or less the same as last
year. That has allowed us to focus more heavily
on the medical sector, where we have very
good reference cases and skills, even related
to the US market. We see growth opportunities
in the Healthcare & MedTech segment, as well
as in other areas where demanding development
is required.
Poland has some massive investments in this
sector underway. Can you also support foreign
companies entering the Polish healthcare
/ medtech markets?
Of course, and we do. When you need to connect
to local APIs and localize the service or product,
you might enter into a situation when some documentation
is in Polish, or contact persons require
the Polish language. Our team is experienced
in these matters as well. This is not only the case
in medtech, but applies to many sectors,
from fintech to industrial services.
You probably also have AI and related
applications keeping you busy.
We have worked on several super exciting
projects, tools and developments in this area.
Both for startups and for mature companies.
You can see some of these in our case studies
on our website.
Do you have anything new coming up in 2026?
Senior expertise remains in constant demand,
and there are a number of weak signals pointing
to growing overall demand in 2026. Practical,
no-nonsense AI implementations are also likely
to grow as the hype fades.
HENRI
JÄÄSKELÄINEN,
Founder and
CEO of Polar
Night Software
Sponsored article
www.thomsonreuters.com/en
THOMSON REUTERS
NAVIGATING KSEF AND BEYOND:
PRACTICAL INSIGHTS FOR COMPANIES ENTERING THE POLISH MARKET
The rollout of e-invoicing mandates and
realtime reporting, including Poland’s National
System of eInvoicing (KSeF), is reshaping how
companies approach tax, compliance and
finance operations across Poland and CEE.
Radosław Dominiak, Associate Account
Manager at Thomson Reuters, explained to
us what these changes mean in practice, and
what international businesses should keep
in mind when planning or scaling their
operations in Poland.
2026 will finally be the year of KSeF – how do
you assess its impact and what are your key
recommendations?
KSeF is a game-changer for invoicing in Poland.
It introduces a clearance model where every
invoice must be submitted in a compliant format
and validated in real time by the government
platform.
BE READY FOR CHANGE!
Regulatory Forecast 2026:
Our recommendations are:
Act now: integration takes time and deadlines
are approaching.
Leverage automation: use this change to
streamline processes and reduce manual errors.
Think strategically: view compliance
but as an opportunity to improve efficiency.
The sooner you start, the smoother the transition
will be!
What else do you offer to international
companies expanding into Poland?
Expanding into Poland means navigating
complex legal, tax, and regulatory requirements
from day one. We help companies stay compliant
and efficient through our ONESOURCE suite,
delivering integrated solutions for Indirect Tax
Automation, VAT compliance, and Global
Trade Management. I recommend reading our
new guide – Regulatory Forecast 2026 – which
outlines key einvoicing, VAT and CTC developments
worldwide, helping companies plan their
compliance roadmaps more holistically.
RADOSŁAW
DOMINIAK,
Associate
Account
Manager
at Thomson
Reuters
Thomson
Reuters
acquired
Pagero
in 2024
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 53

www.spondeo.pl
TRENDS TO FOLLOW
IN POLAND 2026
SPONDEO HAS BEEN ACTIVE ON THE POLISH MARKET SINCE 2014, WITH OUR TEAM ACTING
IN HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF CLIENTS – FROM STARTUPS TO BILLION-LEAGUE
COMPANIES. DRAWING ON OUR EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME LIKELY TRENDS ON
THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE. BELOW WE HAVE SET OUT SOME TOPICS WE THINK WILL
BE INTERESTING TO FOLLOW IN 2026.
WILL THE WAR END AND WHAT WILL
1. THAT MEAN TO THE LABOR MARKET?
Before the war, the Polish economy was already
largely supported by the Ukrainian workforce in all
sectors. According to recent studies, around onethird
of the working Ukrainians in Poland (so around
300-400 thousand) would like to return home
when the war ends. While there will undoubtedly
be continued migration into Poland, the reality is
that Polish companies will face a significant labor
gap. This shortage will likely drive further wage
growth, particularly in lower-paid roles.
KEEP AN EYE ON INFLATION
2. AND SALARIES
At the end of 2025, the inflation rate had stabilized
at 2.5%, yet wages continue to climb at around
6-7%, meaning that the purchasing power of Poles
is increasing rapidly and Poles are getting wealthier.
Poland can no longer be considered
a “low-cost” country, with salaries and prices
now often exceeding Finnish or EU averages.
POLISH COMPANIES
3. EXPANDING ABROAD
In 2025, Polish companies hit record levels of
overseas acquisitions – including two notable
deals in Finland (see our feature on Leikkiset-
Buglo on page 34). This trend seems set to continue
in 2026. Supported by a new government
program to boost exports, local companies are
now putting more strategic effort into export sales
– previously they relied on low-cost levels and
a weak currency, but those advantages are
now gone.
GEOPOLITICS, POLITICS AND IMAGE
4. Poland is an EU border country, and one
of the few that have been diligent about their defence
role. This has increased its geopolitical importance
and boosted the country’s image. Never
before has Poland been so interesting in the eyes
of Finns, which is visible in the number of acquisitions,
new companies on the Polish market and
inquiries we are receiving. Remember, the next
parliamentary elections are already next year!
TUOMAS ASUNMAA, CEO of Spondeo
COMMON
SURPRISES
IN POLAND
Tough competition
and very competent
local players
Contact persons
are not publicly
available, reaching
right person takes
time
Prices are getting
closer to Finnish
level and (net)
salaries sometimes
even above
Speed and
dynamics - when
things move they
move fast
Business culture
is not as relaxed as
in Finland
WATCH THE ENERGY
5. AND DEFENCE SECTORS
Although there are always large infrastructure
and modernization projects going on in Poland,
sometimes new trends arise. Right now there are
big waves in the energy storage, green energy
(including biogas) and defence sectors, for
example. Poland recently announced huge
investments in comprehensive security, where
Finland is a definite leader.
CHANGES IN THE BUSINESS
6. ENVIRONMENT
2026 will finally be the year of KSeF (mandatory
e-invoicing) and the Pay Transparency Act will
come into force, requiring salary ranges to be
disclosed at the start of the recruitment process.
The government will most likely need to take
some action to reduce the budget deficit (over 6%
of GDP), which might include, for example, higher
employment costs and stricter rules on hiring
B2B contractors. However, we don’t predict any
increase in the Poles’ political or public appetite
for joining the Eurozone!
IF YOU’D LIKE TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THE POLISH MARKET,
OR DISCUSS POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT VIA EMAIL:
TUOMAS@SPONDEO.FI
54 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

SECTION 4
FINNISH
CULTURE
& SPORT
IN POLAND
Finnish influences in Poland reach
far beyond the world of business.
If you look closely, you will find a touch
of Finland in literature, media, sports
clubs and even in the presence of
Santa Claus himself. This section
highlights the many ways shared
cultural interests bring the two
countries closer and deepen
Finnish-Polish relations.
Karolus Kaarlehto (JKH GKS Jastrzębie).
Photo by JKH GKS Jastrzębie
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 55

SECTION 4
SANTA’S FAVOURITE ELF
IN POZNAŃ
JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WERONIKA GIDEL-ASUNMAA SPOKE WITH NIINA FARJASZEWSKA
TO GET SOME ESSENTIAL TIPS ON WHAT POLISH COMPANIES NEED WHEN ENTERING
THE FINNISH MARKET, HOW BUSINESS TRUST HAS EVOLVED IN POST-COMMUNIST POLAND,
AND THE MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF CONNECTING TWO CULTURES – BOTH IN PROFESSIONAL
MEETINGS AND UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
What made you decide to come to Poland
in the first place, and why did you choose
to work in international business?
My move to Poland was almost by chance
– Poznań came up during a business program
18 years ago. What kept me here, and what really
shaped my career, was the energy of Poland’s
growing economy and the international scope
of the company I joined. I quickly discovered my
passion for exports and business development.
Based on your experience in both markets,
what is the most important advice you would
give to a Polish CEO entering the Finnish
market? Where do companies most often
run into trouble when exporting to Finland?
Market analysis is essential, but most export
projects fail on culture rather than strategy. For
Polish companies entering Finland, local insight
is key. Finnish business is very flat and direct, with
little of the hierarchy found in Poland. And while
Polish companies are often on a fast execution
path and “learning on the go,” in Finland systems
are expected to work smoothly from day one.
A trusted local expert can help bridge these
differences and align expectations on both sides.
You’ve lived and worked through a massive
period of economic change in Poland. What
are the key cultural differences you’ve observed
in a business context, especially concerning
the concept of “trust”?
At first, the two markets felt quite similar, but
living here long term reveals important differences
that matter in business. One key area is trust.
In Finland, trust is often given by default – a handshake
and a promise can be enough. As a result,
there is less reliance on long, detailed contracts,
because commitments are generally taken seriously.
In Poland, trust often needs to be earned,
shaped by historical experience. A big positive
is how quickly this is changing. Over the past
20 years, Polish business culture has become far
more open, collaborative, and trust-based. Polish
companies are highly capable and evolving fast.
Changing topics to your “secret” role as
a Tonttu (elf) for Santa Claus, tell us more
about this important part of your life!
Indeed, I’m also a Christmas secret. I’ve been
doing Santa Claus events in Poznań for eight
years now, each memorable in its own way.
Some have been extremely moving, such as
visiting a temporary foster home here locally in
the Wielkopolska region. Some events have been
NIINA
FARJASZEWSKA,
EMBA Graduate
with expertise
in Export
Management
For eight years
I have been bringing
a touch of Finnishness
to Wielkopolska. This
year’s visits to Zakrzewo,
the local school,
the children’s hospital,
and the Betlejem
Poznańskie Christmas
Market showed how
deeply these traditions
connect us. Together
with Gmina Dopiewo,
Warta Poznań, and
Betlejem Poznańskie,
we helped create
moments of joy, friendship,
and cultural
connection.
extremely exciting, like lighting up the Poznań
city Christmas tree last year, with 1,500 people
there. However, I think the most memorable
for me personally was in 2021 when, together
with co-Tonttu, our local Finnish community
and other friends of Finland, we organized
a Finnish evening at the Poznań Christmas market.
You’ve been bringing a slice of Finland
to Poland for eight years through these
events. Do Polish children know more about
Lapland and Finnish culture now than they
did when you started?
Absolutely, teaching people about Finland
is one of the main goals of these events. Think
back to eight years ago – we constantly had
to explain where Finland was, what Lapland
looked like, and where Rovaniemi was located.
What a change we’ve seen! Now, thanks to
the media, growing tourism, and a better general
awareness, kids immediately say, “Oh, I know!
Santa is from Lapland!” or “I saw Santa Village
in a movie!”. Some have even visited, taking
advantage of the new direct flights. This is a huge,
positive shift! We are effectively bringing Finland
right to the local community, proving that cultural
exchange is about shared joy and tradition!
56 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

www.suomi-puola.net
liitto@suomi-puola.net
UNION OF FINNISH-POLISH ASSOCIATIONS
COOPERATION IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER
The Union of Finnish-Polish Associations looks for new partners to continue its historic mission
THE UNION OF FINNISH-POLISH ASSOCIATIONS HAS CARRIED OUT ITS MISSION IN ITS CURRENT
FORM SINCE 1977, WITH 13 ACTIVE FINNISH-POLISH ASSOCIATIONS CURRENTLY OPERATING
ACROSS FINLAND. HOWEVER, THE STORY RUNS MUCH DEEPER, AS FRIENDSHIP-SOCIETY
COOPERATION BETWEEN FINLAND AND POLAND BEGAN AS EARLY AS 1928, MAKING NEARLY
A CENTURY OF SHARED COMMITMENT A REMARKABLE MILESTONE.
At the heart of the association’s work lies a simple,
enduring goal: to strengthen the bonds
of friendship between the two nations. Cultural
exchange serves as the organization’s primary
vehicle for this mission. Its activities rest on three
long-standing pillars: the annual Polish Film
Weeks, a language-scholarship exchange program,
and the annual Finnish-Polish magazine.
For this story, Spondeo spoke with Esko Peura,
President of the Union of Finnish-Polish
Associations.
What are the main events of your association –
Polish cinema week seems especially popular?
Polish Film Week is one of our key brands with
a long tradition. Each year, we present new
Polish films in 10 to 12 cities, often with a different
thematic focus. The event is very popular and our
important partner in organizing it is the Embassy
of Poland in Finland. In terms of scholarship exchange,
two language scholarship holders have
come to Finland every year, and two students
from Finland go to Poland. Language teaching is
important and there is a high demand for Finnish
language skills in Poland. Our high-quality Finnish-Polish
magazine popularizes Polish culture
and history. The public still wants a magazine that
they want to hold in their hands, although producing
it is expensive.
ESKO PEURA,
The current
chairman of
the Union.
Photo by Ville
Paul Paasimaa
In 2023, the Union
brought an exhibition
of Polish
art ceramics
to Finland.
​Photo by Katarzyna
Handzlik-Bạąk
We heard that the government is cutting
the funding of associations, how is this
reflected in your work?
The government slashed funding in 2025 as
a cost-saving measure, but the funding cuts are
perceived as unfair. The aid was not distributed
evenly among the societies. Our activities have
had to be adapted in many ways. In today’s global
situation, cooperation is more important than ever.
We hope to find new partners, as there are many
opportunities for collaboration between Finland
and Poland.
How can individuals and companies support
your work?
The association`s rules allow donations and supporting
members. Communities and companies
can support our activities and in return, we can
promote them in various ways. Finding sponsors
or new partners for projects is incredibly important.
In addition, we also aim to produce concerts
and art exhibitions.
What is your favorite place in Poland, the best
joke or piece of wisdom?
”Where there are six cooks there is nothing to eat”.
A warning against excessive chaos in a work
group :)) My favorite place is Wrocław, but Kraków
comes a close second, and I think everyone
should visit Krakow once in their life :)
This Finnish-Polish magazine makes Poland
better known in Finland. Previous issues
are digitized on the website.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 57

SECTION 4
www.pekkahaavisto.fi
AN INTERVIEW WITH PEKKA HAAVISTO
REFLECTING ON POLAND,
HIS TRAVELS, AND THE ENDURING
THREADS OF SOLIDARITY
A FINNISH POLITICIAN OF THE
GREEN PARTY, DEEPLY ENGAGED IN
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
A FORMER MINISTER FOR FORE-
IGN AFFAIRS, KNOWN FOR HIS CALM,
DIPLOMACY AND DEEP HUMANISM.
THREE TIMES A CANDIDATE
FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF FINLAND,
EARNING WIDESPREAD RESPECT.
THE AUTHOR OF A RECENT BOOK
ON HIS JOURNEY THROUGH
POLAND’S ANCIENT BIAŁOWIEŻA
FOREST – A TRAVELOGUE FILLED
WITH ECOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS.
A MAN OF DIALOGUE
AND A BUILDER OF BRIDGES
BETWEEN CULTURES.
What was the soundtrack for your trip
to Białowieża forest?
It was Leonard Cohen, I think. His music is often
playing in my car, along with a few other classics.
Since the war began, I’ve also started listening
to several Ukrainian bands.
What inspired this journey to Białowieża?
It really goes back to Pentti Linkola’s thoughts about
Poland. Since the 1980s, he’s been saying that you
have to go to Poland if you want to see truly original
forests. Back then, this recommendation sounded
rather odd to young people. It was a time when
there was a lot of news about environmental damage
and acid rain in Central and Eastern Europe.
What was most memorable about the drive?
I had imagined that there would be more signs
of the war visible along the route. But it wasn’t
really apparent anywhere. In fact, I think there
are more Ukrainian flags on display in Helsinki
than I saw along that journey.
What are your first memories of Poland?
There must be many.
I first visited around the turn of the 1980s and 90s.
Back then, many Poles attended Baltic environmental
meetings – particularly environmental
activists, who were often outspoken critics
of the Soviet system. I remember Polish visitors
to Finland during the 1980s; they performed
a Solidarity play at Hämäläis-Osakunta (Häme
Nation student organization).
PEKKA HAAVISTO. Photo by Kerttu Penttilä
IT IS
PARAMOUNT
THAT WE
MAINTAIN
OUR UNITY
DURING
PERIODS
OF CRISIS.
”
By the way, Toni Stenström’s book includes
a fascinating history about the Solidarity
movement in Finland – especially how it was
nearly banned.
When Poland later freed itself from communism,
it wanted to honor those who had supported
Solidarity. Elsewhere in Europe, awards went
to politicians and well-known figures. In Finland,
they mostly went to ordinary workers – garbage
collectors and bus drivers – some of whom had
even been under intelligence surveillance.
You wrote your first “Interrail” book in the late
1970s. Did you visit Poland back then?
No, I don’t think the pass included Poland
in the 1970s or ’80s. Only Hungary and Yugoslavia
were open to travelers. Rail travel is fascinating
– you really notice how other countries operate
totally differently, from tickets to travel classes.
Air travel, on the other hand, is completely
standardized; the same everywhere.
How about during your time as Foreign
Minister – were your Polish counterparts
easy to work with?
Especially with Minister Zbigniew Rau (Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Poland between 2020 and 2023),
yes. He was quite a philosophical figure, actually.
I remember calling him in the middle of the night
during the early phase of the war, when the missile
crisis broke out. He remained very calm.
The press, however, went wild. Some even
claimed that Europe is now at war. I told them:
You’ll know when a war really starts.
Speaking of the news – are there any
“good news” stories left in the world?
President Trump’s Middle East peace initiative was
58 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Sponsored article
www.sandvalley.pl
a historic effort and quite an achievement. Let’s
hope Hamas and Israel honor what was agreed.
The Armenia–Azerbaijan dialogue is also a positive
sign. There are glimmers of hope in Rwanda
and Congo, too. But then, there’s Sudan – a massive,
almost unspoken crisis, with ten million out
of forty million people now refugees.
Why do some crises fade from public view?
Only a couple of major crises fit in the public
consciousness at once. First it was Ukraine, now
the Middle East. There’s simply no room left for
Burma, Sudan, or Russia’s actions in the Sahel.
There’s a limit to how many crises the news cycle
can handle. I remember telling people in Darfur
that the world’s attention would turn away after
a few years – they didn’t believe me.
Is there a story from that trip that you haven’t
told yet?
The original idea was to make a longer route
– including Kaliningrad and Belarus. But that’s
out of the question now.
How do you see Poland’s role in Finland’s
relations today?
Poland has become central. People listen
to Poland now and we have defence cooperation.
The Nordic countries used to have the “5+3”
cooperation model with the Baltics – Poland
now makes it nine.
And finally, a question from my ten-year-old
daughter Maria: when did you first want
to become president?
Ah, that’s hard to say. The first time it came up was
in the early 1960s. I was making a list of people
attending an event at Munkkivuori Church – there,
in the shaky handwriting of a five-year-old, I noted
bishops, dignitaries and President Kekkonen.
Maybe that event got me thinking and dreaming.
A POPULAR
POLITICIAN’S JOURNEY
TO THE BORDER
OF EUROPE
In his travel book, set
in Poland’s Białowieża
Forest, Pekka Haavisto
reflects on his impressions
along the eastern border of Europe,
at a time when war is also knocking
on Europe’s gates. The past, the present
and the future intersect in a way that provokes
new thoughts. In the Polish ancient
forest, time finally stands still.
“The first sound in the morning was
the heavy breathing of a bison at the
corner of the house. I didn’t dare open
the door. Even though I had traveled
a thousand kilometers to the land of
the bison, to the primeval forest, for
this very reason.”
SAND VALLEY GOLF RESORT
A YEAR OF AWARDS
AND RECOGNITION
Finnish-owned Sand Valley Golf Resort has long stood out on the
Polish golf map thanks to its distinctive “inland links” character.
Set on naturally sandy terrain within a 250-acre estate, the course
was first shaped by Finnish architect Lassi Pekka Tilander, and later
brought to completion by Tony Ristola, whose on-site work ensured
its opening in 2009. The result is a layout defined by wide fairways,
firm playing conditions and striking sandy waste areas – features that
have helped the course build a loyal following at home and abroad.
In 2025, this reputation translated into significant recognition. Sand
Valley once again secured the title of Poland’s Best Golf Course
at the World Golf Awards, confirming the consistency of its quality.
Earlier in the season, Top 100 Golf Courses also ranked it number one
in Poland, strengthening the course’s position as a national leader.
International distinctions followed. Sand Valley entered the Golf World
Top 100 – Continental Europe’s Best Courses, placing 65th among
the continent’s most respected venues. At the same time, it reached
25th place in Golf World’s ranking of Best Value Courses in Continental
Europe, and was praised as an exceptional-quality course
available at accessible pricing – an honour shared by just one
other Polish course.
Its recognition extended beyond golf rankings. The resort received
the “Najlepszy z Najlepszych” (The Best of the Best) regional tourism
award, highlighting Sand Valley’s role in promoting Warmia-Masuria
as a destination.
The recognitions collected throughout 2025 show how Sand
Valley’s character and consistent work continue to resonate with
golfers and experts alike. The course has moved firmly into the group
of European venues that combine identity, quality and reliability.
Biisonipolku, Pekka Haavisto
Publisher: Otava
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 59

SECTION 4
TEACHING FINNISH IN POLAND.
LEENA’S REFLECTIONS ON
CHANGES SINCE THE 1980S
LEENA LAAJO-SZAŃKOWSKA IS A FINNISH PHILOLOGY LECTURER WHO STARTED HER TEACHING
CAREER IN POLAND IN 1984 AND HAS BEEN GUIDING LOCAL STUDENTS OF FINNISH LANGUAGE
IN GDAŃSK, WARSAW AND POZNAŃ UNIVERSITIES. LEENA IS CURRENTLY TEACHING STUDENTS
AT POZNAŃ UNIVERSITY, BUT FINNISH GOVERNMENT BUDGET CUTS MEAN SHE IS NOW DOING
THE WORK REMOTELY FROM TURKU. IN THIS CHAT, LEENA SHARED HER REFLECTIONS ON
HOW POLAND AND ITS PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE 1980S TO TODAY AND HIGHLIGHTS
THE ENDURING IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION.
Your first assignment In Poland was
in Gdańsk back in 1984. Was it your plan?
I became interested in Poland in 1980 through
a general interest in politics. Although I didn’t
specifically aim to live in Poland, I was familiar
with the country due to student trips through
Poland to Budapest and Prague, and I had
already taken some language classes.
You witnessed the historical turnaround
moments in the 1980s and 90s, and the
overall change of the country. Did the people
change too?
Thanks to social upheaval, people’s mentality has
changed. I noticed it properly in the early 1990s.
Human relations between Poles and foreigners
were more direct and sincere. No one made
acquaintances anymore to secretly exchange
currency or to get an invitation to visit Finland,
which was sometimes the case in the 1980s.
Although many people still face financial difficulties,
practically no one lives as poorly as they did
40 years ago. In the 1980s, I had food rationing
cards, like everyone else. For example, meat,
vodka, butter and chocolate were all rationed.
I didn’t really need any of them, only chocolate,
and if I wanted chocolate or beer, I was able to
visit the Pewex shop. I ate in the university cafeteria,
where food was tasty even in those times,
bought vegetables at the market and canned fish
from the store. I often gave my ration cards to the
lady next door in the house where I lived. I was
also independent of travel restrictions in the 1980s
because I had a multiple-entry visa for travel.
How about students, are young adults in their
20s always the same despite technological
development?
Students have certainly changed over the past
40 years. I remember wondering in the 1980s
why they didn’t take summer jobs like all Finnish
students. When I asked them why they didn’t
work, they usually replied in astonishment that
it wasn’t worth it because the salaries were so low.
I told them that their parents had to take those
low-paid jobs. At that time, it was really impossible
to make a good living in Poland. Nowadays, many
students work part-time throughout the academic
year. Of course, the job market has completely
LEENA LAAJO-SZAŃKOWSKA, Finnish philology lecturer
STUDENTS
TODAY MAY
HAVE JUST
AS GOOD
PROSPECTS
IN POLAND
AS ABROAD.
”
changed. Although middle-class young people
took private English lessons in the 1980s, too,
today students’ language skills are much better
than they were. Traveling is also an everyday thing
for students today, though they used to travel
earlier. In the 1980s, many went to work in strawberry
fields in the Nordic countries, even though
it was not always simple to get a passport. Today,
young people feel like normal Europeans. Student
exchange programs like Erasmus are an everyday
part of their lives.
What has been triggering Polish youngsters
to learn Finnish? I once visited a class in Poznań
and asked them, at least half of the people
mentioned rock & heavy metal.
It used to be that way, and still is. The Nordic
countries are generally of interest. Some of my
students are interested in rare and exotic
languages, and Finnish is exotic because it
is so different.
Where do Finnish graduates find employment,
and are they staying in Poland?
I think most of the students stay in Poland
because the job market is better than in Finland.
They are mostly employed by outsourcing cen-
60 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

ters where they can use Finnish at work and their
salary level there is very good, much better than
in universities. In fact, it is difficult to get master’s
degree students because they find jobs after
their bachelor’s degree.
Every two years, about 35 students throughout
Poland complete a BA degree in Finnish philology
and about 15 students complete an MA degree.
Students are admitted to the studies mainly every
two years, so these figures are not really annual.
Your last position was in Poznań, being
present locally. Now the Finnish government
has cut the funding, you are working remotely
from Finland. This must affect your and your
students’ situation?
It is a truly new and regrettable situation. It does
not apply specifically to Finnish philologists at
Polish universities, but to all countries where the
Finnish National Board of Education pays the
majority of the salary of lecturers sent from
Finland. In practice, it applies to all former socialist
countries, whose salary level is clearly lower
than in Finland. In some universities, the situation
remains the same as before, e.g. Warsaw and
Gdańsk. For example, Hungarian universities
are suffering badly from this situation, as well
as the universities of Riga and Tallinn.
The new situation in Poznań threatens the future
of Finnish philology, because there are too few
local teachers and there is currently no Finnish
lecturer. I still teach remotely once a week.
However, the university has very strict limits on
how few remote teaching hours can be organized.
This restriction threatens the future of philology
as much as the decision of the Finnish National
Board of Education.
Maybe some lighter questions at the end…
What are your favorite places, can you share
any hidden gems worth visiting?
While Krakow, Gdańsk and Warsaw are all
Lecturers (from left):
Dr. Martyna Kokotkiewicz,
Dr. Erzsébet
Pánka, and Leena
Laajo-Szańkowska.
Photo from a private
collection
POLES HAVE
A GOOD SENSE
OF HUMOR
– AND THEY
HAVE “SISU”
TOO.
”
worth visiting, there are so many small, charming
Polish towns, especially old ones. In Eastern
Poland you have Kazimierz Dolny and Zamość,
for example. In Western Poland visit Bydgoszcz
and Kłodzko. These towns have beautiful, historic
stone houses that may surprise a Finn. Except
for the rural areas of eastern Poland, there is not
much wooden architecture, so stone houses
have been built for centuries and they are
typical for most Polish towns.
What memorable situations have you found
yourself in?
During martial law, I sometimes took a train from
Gdańsk to Berlin. When the train crossed the
Polish border on the way back, I was happy to
be back among the joking Poles. The border
guards and customs officers were strict, but also
joking. Once a customs officer asked if I had any
illegal papers. He meant publications, of course.
I said, please take a look – I’ve got a lot of paper.
My suitcase was full of toilet paper I’d bought in
Berlin. He laughed and called over another officer
to come and take a look. They both laughed and
promised not to confiscate them… this time!
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 61

SECTION 4
BOOKS
TRANSLATED FROM FINNISH TO POLISH
2025
KIRJA’S
TEAM
KIRJA TRANSLATORS COLLECTIVE was founded in 2019 by participants at Finnish literature translation
workshops. It promotes Finnish literature in Poland. Members of the collective read, review, and translate
Finnish works, closely following literary trends and regularly attending book fairs and events. Through their
blog and social media, they share insights with a dedicated audience of fans of Nordic literature and Polish
publishers, bridging the gap between Finnish literature and Polish readers.
Children’s literature
FANNI’S BIG
FEELINGS,
IDENTIFYING
AND LABELLING
EMOTIONS
Heidi Livingston,
Julia Pöyhönen,
Linnea Bellamine
Original title: Fanni ja suuri
tunnemöykky: tunteiden
tunnistamisen ja nimeämisen
harjoitteleminen
Polish title: Fanni i wielkie emocje.
Rozpoznawanie i nazywanie
emocji – ćwiczenia
Transl.: Natalia Nordling
Publisher: Esprit Kids
Fanni feels overwhelmed when
emotions pile up, leaving her
confused and ashamed. With
gentle guidance from her mother,
she learns to recognize feelings
around and inside her. “Fanni’s Big
Feelings” is a reassuring picture
book that fosters emotional
awareness in children.
Children’s literature
PRANKENSTEIN
Kaisa Paasto
Original title:
Prankenstein
Polish title:
Prankenstein
Transl.: Piotr Paczkowski
Publisher: Greg
A seemingly ordinary fifth grader,
Elmeri, accidentally pulls off
a brilliant prank. His cousin
Robin decides to act as a coach
and train Elmeri to become a true
prank legend. But is it too much
to involve a well-known magician
and the Finnish president
in the next trick?
An absurdly funny tale that offers
a lighthearted look at growing up.
Graphic novel
SING NO EVIL
JP Ahonen, KP Alare
Original title: Perkeros
Polish title: Perkeros
Transl.: Karolina
Wojciechowska
Publisher: Diablaq
Crime
THE GRAVE IN THE ICE
Satu Rämö
Original title: Rosa & Björk
Polish title: Rosa i Björk
Transl.: Karolina Wojciechowska
Publisher: HarperCollins Polska
A powerful local figure is found
shot on a quiet ski trail, drawing
Hildur and Jakob into a case
where every clue exposes
new secrets. As the truth about
Hildur’s missing sisters resurfaces
and Jakob’s custody battle
intensifies, the line between
justice and harm blurs. A gripping
Nordic noir of buried trauma
and small-town darkness.
Crime
THE SHADOW
OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Satu Rämö
Original title: Jakob
Polish title: Jakob
Transl.: Karolina Wojciechowska
Publisher: HarperCollins Polska
As Christmas nears in Ísafjörður,
a chilling series of killings strikes
remote Icelandic communities.
While Hildur hunts for the link
between the crimes, Jakob faces
a painful custody battle that
pushes him towards a dangerous
edge. A tense Nordic noir
charged with moral dilemmas
and wintry atmosphere.
Crime
THE SECRETS
FROM THE DEEP
Satu Rämö
Original title: Rakel
Polish title: Rakel
Transl.: Karolina Wojciechowska
Publisher: HarperCollins Polska
Detective Hildur returns to her
Icelandic hometown, where
a new case entangles her in
family secrets and gruesome
aspects of local history. Hildur
loses a friend - and a crucial
link to her own past. Meanwhile,
some unexpected dangers arrive
on a cruise ship carrying a large
group of tourists.
62 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

A struggling metal band dreams
of stardom, but mysterious forces seem
to accompany their music. As rehearsals
take a supernatural turn, friendships
are tested and the group must face
an ancient power linked to sound.
A stylish graphic novel mixing music
culture with dark fantasy.
Graphic novel
THE NATURAL COMEDY
Ulla Donner
Original language:
Swedish
Original title:
Den naturliga komedin
Polish title:
Naturalna komedia
Transl.: Piotr Paczkowski
Publisher: Kultura Gniewu
A drifting birch leaf together with
the heartbroken mushroom Candy
in Dantean fashion journeys through
surreal landscapes. Along the way
they meet many eccentric figures -
including Kombucha - guru leading
a wellness cult. Through bold visuals
and biting humour, the story highlights
fragile bond with nature and absurdities
of modern life.
Fiction
BEASTS OF THE SEA
Iida Turpeinen
Original title: Elolliset
Polish title: Żywe istoty
Transl.: Sebastian Musielak
Publisher: Wydawnictwo
Poznańskie
A richly layered novel
tracing humanity’s
shifting relationship with nature through
the fate of the Steller’s sea cow.
The book blends history and fiction,
science and emotions, providing
the readers with opportunity to reflect
on loss, responsibility and the impact
humans have on the environment.
Fiction
O
Miki Liukkonen
Original title: O
Polish title: O (albo
uniwersalny traktat o
tym, dlaczego sprawy
mają się tak, a nie
inaczej)
Transl.: Sebastian
Musielak
Publisher: Insignis
“O” is a vast, inventive novel that interlaces
the lives of countless characters
burdened by anxieties, phobias, and obsessions.
With humor and philosophical
depth, it explores the essence of everyday
existence, portraying modern life
as chaotic yet intricately interconnected.
Children’s literature
LITTLE MOUSE’S
SCHOOL PICTURE DAY
Riikka Jäntti
Original title:
Hiiru. Karmea kuvauspäivä
Polish title:
Myszonek i zdjęcie klasowe
Transl.: Iwona Kiuru
Publisher: Frajda
Little Mouse, familiar to younger
readers from the “Pikku hiiri”
series, has started grade school
and is ready for new adventures.
School photo day brings stress,
as he, like all his classmates,
wants everything to be perfect.
Yet on such an important day,
nothing goes as planned
Children’s literature
LITTLE MOUSE’S
HILARIOUS HALLOWEEN
Riikka Jäntti
Original title:
Hiiru. Hillitön halloween
Polish title: Myszonek
i zwariowane Halloween
Transl.: Iwona Kiuru
Publisher: Frajda
Little Mouse is ready to
celebrate Halloween, but what
has happened to his
backpack? Could magic dice
really show the right direction?
And what (or rather who) is
hidden in the school’s spooky
basement? A new adventure
of young audience’s beloved
friend called Little Mouse.
Fiction
REVEREND
HUUSKONEN’S
BEASTLY VALET
Arto Paasilinna
Original title: Rovasti
Huuskosen petomainen
miespalvelija
Polish title:
Nieludzki lokaj przewielebnego
Huuskonena
Transl.: Sebastian Musielak
Publisher: Książkowe Klimaty
A reverend’s life is upended when
his congregation gifts him a bear cub
for his 50th birthday. He bonds with
the animal, and through misadventures
they journey across Russia, the
Mediterranean, and back to Finland.
With Paasilinna’s humour, the
tale exposes human folly, while
highlighting the theme of freedom,
and developing relationship
between man and animal.
Fiction, Poetry
EXCERPTS FROM
FINNISH CLASSIC
LITERATURE
Various authors:
Volter Kilpi, Eeva-Liisa
Manner, Marja-Liisa
Vartio, Maria Jotuni
Original title: n/a
Polish title: “Literatura
na Świecie nr 05-06 2025”
Transl.: Sebastian Musielak, Łukasz
Sommer, Karolina Wojciechowska,
Artur Bobotek
Publisher: Instytut Książki
Cover author: Tomasz Frycz
The 5–6/2025 issue of the magazine
Literatura na Świecie (World Literature)
is devoted to Finnish classics.
It features translations of works
by Volter Kilpi, Eeva-Liisa Manner,
Marja-Liisa Vartio, and Maria Jotuni,
accompanied by translators’
commentaries.
Graphic novel / Children’s literature
LILY THE THIEF:
THE TREASURE
OF THE THREE
KINGS
Janne Kukkonen
Original title: Voro.
Kolmen kuninkaan aarre
Polish title: Lilja złodziejka. Skarb
trzech królów
Transl.: Sebastian Musielak
Publisher: Kultura Gniewu
A young thief Lilja, longs to prove
herself to the Guild.
Determined to earn respect, she
takes on a daring heist that entangles
her in a struggle between ancient kings
and forgotten gods. Drawn into perilous
battles, she discovers that more
than treasure is at stake in this witty
fantasy adventure.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 63

SECTION 4
EXPLORING A CENTURY
OF CONNECTIONS
An interview with Toni Stenström, author of Poland and Finland: A History of Cooperation
IN AUGUST 2025, FINNISH HISTORIAN, TRANSLATOR, AND CENTRAL EUROPE EXPERT TONI
STENSTRÖM PUBLISHED HIS NEWEST BOOK, POLAND AND FINLAND: A HISTORY OF COOPERATION.
THIS IS A WELL-RESEARCHED LOOK AT 100 YEARS OF POLITICAL, CULTURAL, AND HUMAN TIES.
RELEASED AMID DEEPENING NATO COOPERATION AND GROWING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LINKS,
THE BOOK REFLECTS GROWING FINNISH INTEREST IN POLAND.
What first triggered you to write this book?
I realised that Finnish-Polish relations are better
than ever, yet most Finns still know very little
about Poland or our shared history. I wanted to fill
that gap with a narrative that is both informative
and engaging.
What is your personal connection to Poland?
I’ve lived in Poland several times and have led
historical tours for Finnish groups. It’s one of my
favourite countries to travel in – the history, the
cities, and the people keep drawing me back.
Did you find topics that could become separate
books of their own?
Absolutely. The Cold War-era espionage stories
could easily fill an entire volume. The parallel paths
of Poland and Finland toward NATO membership
would also make a fascinating standalone study.
Were there moments in the research where
material was difficult to find?
Yes. The Finnish MFA archives are open only up to
the year 2000, so the most recent decades required
extensive interviews. That part of the story had to be
built through people rather than documents.
From your personal experience, how has Poland
changed in the last decade?
Poland has modernised rapidly. There’s a visible
sense of optimism in major cities – in the economy,
infrastructure and in people’s outlook on the future.
TONI STENSTRÖM,
at the Rosebud
Bookstore.
Photo by Spondeo
And how would you describe current
Finnish-Polish relations?
NATO changed everything. We are now close allies,
with cooperation happening on many
levels – political, military, and cultural.
The relationship feels more solid than
ever before.
Do Finns still hold stereotypes about
Poland?
Some do, especially older Finns who
remember only the news from the 1980s.
When I guide groups through modern
Poland, many can hardly recognise the country.
When might the Polish edition of the book
appear?
Hopefully in 2026 or 2027. I’m still searching for
the right translator.
Where has the book taken you so far?
It has opened a great many doors. I’ve had events
with business communities, diplomats, politicians,
cultural associations and many Poles living in
Finland. The interest has been wide and genuinely
encouraging.
What was the biggest surprise during your
research?
The archive material from the early 1990s was
eye-opening. Polish diplomats understood Russian
intentions with impressive accuracy, while Finnish
officials were much more hesitant to imagine the
scenario we are facing in Europe today.
What comes next?
I’m working on an English edition of the book.
And I have an idea for a new project – very likely
something connected to the Cold War.
A century of shared history takes on
new relevance as Finland and Poland
deepen their cooperation. Toni
Stenström’s new book offers a fresh
look at the ties shaping both nations
today.
“We can balance our sharpness,
sensitivity, and passion with the
exceptional strength of character,
perseverance, and tenacity that are
characteristic of the Finns. ...
The contrast in our character
traits creates an emotional basis
for mutual Polish-Finnish love
and affection.”
— Diplomat Józef Ziabicki, 1919
“Poland and Finland are two newly
formed independent states, born at
almost the same time as a direct consequence
of the events of the world
war and under similar conditions in
many respects… our country gains
a powerful new neighbour on the
Baltic, with which it is important to be
on friendly terms, and even to forge
an alliance.”
— Verner Humble, Finnish journalist
and author, 1919
Photo by Spondeo
“Poland is a large, special and important
country - unlike Finland”
— General Wojciech Jaruzelski, 1986
64 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

ANTTI BLÅFIELD & ERJA-OUTI HEINO
– THE AUTHORS OF PUOLA
ON SAMAA MAATA
FOR YEARS, FINNISH BOOKSHELVES OFFERED LITTLE ABOUT POLAND – A LIVELY, COMPLEX
COUNTRY, TOO OFTEN REDUCED TO COLD WAR SHORTHAND. THAT GAP IS NOW CLOSING.
WITH PUOLA ON SAMAA MAATA BY ANTTI BLÅFIELD AND ERJA-OUTI HEINO, FINLAND GAINS
A FRESH WINDOW INTO CENTRAL EUROPE – ONE SHAPED BY CURIOSITY, INSIGHT,
AND CULTURAL CONNECTION. TUOMAS ASUNMAA SPOKE WITH THEM.
Your book was the first on Polish society in a
long time. What kind of reception did it receive?
Our book received a good reception and even
more media visibility than we had dared to hope
for in advance. Based on the feedback, there
was indeed market demand for a book focusing
on Poland. We noted that many readers enjoyed
reading Polish and Finnish history in parallel, as
it opened up a new perspective on the history
of both nations.
As we toured and spoke about the book, it
became clearer to us just how many Finns have
personal connections and firsthand memories
related to Poland.
Poland’s image in Finland, at least in my view,
has improved significantly over the last couple
of years. Can you confirm this?
The warm reception of our book also came out
of a growing interest in Poland right now. People
seem more curious to understand the country
better. This is not only linked to security but also
to Poland’s internal politics, which in many ways
illustrate the broader European trend of political
polarization.
During our time in Poland, we noticed that Finnish
views of the country shifted quite a bit. Early on,
Poland was often associated with the then-government’s
values of conservatism and Euroscepticism.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, however,
perceptions changed, and Poland started to
be seen more as a responsible and influential
European actor.
What do relations between Poland and Finland
look like to you right now?
In our book, we explore how often the destinies
of Poland and Finland have intersected throughout
history. Now, once again, Poland and Finland
are bound together by their location. Finland and
Poland are united by the heritage of Antiquity,
the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment.
We are on the same side.
Your book also highlights key moments
in Poland’s history, which is no small task.
Compared to Finland, Poland is a great power
– slightly smaller in surface area but eight times
larger in population. Poland’s historical fate
has often been much harsher than Finland’s;
we have more often than once managed
to slip past the worst.
ANTTI BLÅFIELD AND ERJA-OUTI HEINO
A Finnish look at
Poland’s turbulent
past and modern
divisions, and
what they can
teach us today.
The book traces
shared history,
Poland’s path
back to open democracy,
and the
lessons it offers
for avoiding deep
societal rifts.
Puola on
Samaa maata
(Poland is of the
same wood), Antti
Blåfield, Erja-Outi
Heino
Publisher:
Sitala
One question that preoccupied us was why does
the curse of partitioning seem to have overshadowed
Poland throughout its history? Another was
what influenced the emergence of a tradition in
Finland of searching for national consensus?
In business, I always suggest learning a bit
about a country’s history and society – it helps
you understand its character. What advice
would you give to those interested in Poland?
It is said that Poles remember and Poles do not
forget. They appreciate it when a conversational
partner is knowledgeable about their history and
culture, and when they can talk about the history
of their own country in a way that is relevant
to Poles. A total of six writers who have lived
or are living in Poland have been awarded
the Nobel Prize!
Is there anything else you would like
to add about Poland or the Poles?
We recall an interesting discussion with a Polish
friend. We were talking about current politics and
we mentioned that the late President Mauno
Koivisto had defined Russia’s ‘idea’ as expansion
back at the turn of the millennium. Our friend
asked, ‘So what is Finland’s idea?’ We quoted
Koivisto on that too. When his book on ‘The Russian
Idea’ was published in Russian, a journalist in
Moscow asked what Finland’s idea was. Koivisto
replied: survival. We asked our Polish friend what
Poland’s idea was. Her answer neatly sums up
Poland’s tragic history: ‘To end up as a victim.’
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 65

SECTION 4
THE FINNISH WAVE:
HOW FINNISH BOOKS ARE
CAPTURING POLISH READERS
FINNISH WRITING HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR IN POLAND THIS YEAR, WITH #1 BESTSELLERS
AND MAJOR LITERARY MAGAZINES DEDICATING ENTIRE ISSUES TO FINNISH WRITERS. SEBASTIAN
MUSIELAK, A LEADING POLISH TRANSLATOR OF FINNISH LITERATURE, SPOKE WITH TUOMAS
ASUNMAA ABOUT THIS SUCCESS, HIS OWN DEMANDING TRANSLATION PROJECTS, AND HOW
FINNISH VOICES – FROM MODERNIST CLASSICS TO CONTEMPORARY FICTION – HAVE BEEN
WELL-RECEIVED AMONG POLISH READERS.
Finnish literature has had unprecedented
success in Poland this year. How does that
make you feel?
Yes, it’s true and it’s amazing. This year we’ve had
quite a lot going on in Poland. For the first time in
history we had four Finnish comics a year, showing
a growing trend of interest in the Finnish art of
comics. Perhaps more importantly, we’ve seen an
edition of “Literatura na Świecie” (Literature of the
World), the oldest and most respected Polish literary
periodical, dedicated to Finnish authors, featuring
Volter Kilpi, Maria-Liisa Vartio, Marja Jotuni
and Eeva-Liisa Manner; the first three being published
for the first time in Poland. I’m especially
pleased about Kilpi, the grand Finnish modernist,
whose work was completely unknown to Polish
readers. Now we have at least the third chapter of
his outstanding novel “Alastalon Salissa” [W salonie
Alastala] in Polish, in my translation. I found it
my most demanding work so far. The success of
“O”, the novel written by the late Miki Liukkonen,
could be seen as another milestone in the history
of Finnish literature in Poland: it reached the very
top of the Empik’s translated works bestsellers
list in July, soon after it was published. Of course,
it filled me with amazement, as much as with joy
and wonder. And quite a bit of sadness, too: I wish
Miki Liukkonen, the author, had lived to see it.
Was there any additional publicity over its
success, and has the publisher decided
to translate more of his work into Polish?
Yes, the book sparked quite a lively response from
the readership, and some critics as well. There
were numerous reviews and social media posts
about it, some of them quite deep and
analytical. I spoke about the book and Miki at
Big Book Festival in Warsaw, at the Kraków Book
Fair, and on the radio with Marcin Żyła for one of
the most popular Polish book podcasts, “Raport
o Książkach”. The book was recently nominated for
the Small Bookstores’ (Księgarnie Kameralne) long
list of 20 best books of the year (the jury reveal the
best five books of the year on 13 December). And
yes, the sales figures for “O” have been so impressive
that Wydawnictwo Insignis, the publisher of
“O”, have decided to buy another of Liukkonen’s
big novels, “Elämä: esipuhe” [Life: A Prologue].
I will start work on it at the beginning of next year.
SEBASTIAN MUSIELAK
I WAS NICELY
SURPRISED
WHEN
I FOUND MYSELF
IN MIIKA’S
NEWEST BOOK
RATAKIERROS.
”
One of my favorites, the partially magical
“Elolliset” [Beasts of the Sea] by Iida Turpeinen,
was also translated into Polish. It was actually
nominated as book of the century by “Helsingin
Sanomat” readers in Finland. How has it been
received in Poland?
I don’t know the sales figures for the book, but the
publisher – Wydawnictwo Poznańskie – has not
yet asked for any additional printings of the book
(“O” has had two so far). However, the book has
left quite a lot of traces on social media. In September,
Iida Turpeinen was in Warsaw and Gdańsk
and I think her personality affected and touched
readers, so I guess it will turn out to be quite
a popular book in Poland after all.
What about Miika Nousiainen’s “Juurihoito”?
It is a good spirited book that should be better
known. Are you aware that you are mentioned
in his latest one – “Ratakierros” – as a translator?
As far as I know, “Juurihoito” [Roots / Korzenie]
is one of its publisher’s (Książkowe Klimaty)
bestsellers, so it also seems to have found a
readership in Poland with its uplifting, feel-goodabout-the-world
message. And yes, I was nicely
surprised when I found myself in Miika’s newest
book “Ratakierros” [Push, Pace, Position, Pray],
which is a kind of diary of his preparations for the
European Athletics Indoor Championship in Toruń
in 2024. At the beginning of the book, Miika was
66 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

approaching 50 and he decided to celebrate it in
an unusual fashion. Indeed, we met in Poland last
year at the championship. I supported him in his
qualifying 400-metres race and recorded a short
promotion video for “Roots”, which was coming to
the shops around that time.
Arto Paasilinna is a legend in Finnish literature
and a few of his books are already translated
into Polish. Now came “Rovasti Huuskosen
petomainen miespalvelija” a book from the 90s.
How do Poles like his absurdism?
It seems that the absurd humour of Paasilinna
goes down well in Poland. Of course, it is not for
everybody, but I read reviews and posts on social
media and can see there is quite a substantial
group of readers who love just that kind of humour
and want more. For some, nothing is better
than “Year of the Hare”, the first of the three Paasilinna’s
novels published by Książkowe Klimaty,
some like the second one best – “The Forest of
the Hanged Foxes” – and the group I put myself
in regards the third novel, the one you mentioned
– “Reverend Huuskonen’s Beastly Valet” – as the
best of his novels published in Poland so far.
What will you be working on as we head
into 2026?
I have just finished another of my important translations,
“Passio” [Passion] by the iconic Finnish
writer and actress Pirkko Saisio, so I’m enjoying
some free time now. I will return to translating in
January and I know of at least two new projects.
One I already mentioned, it will be another grand
novel by Miki Liukkonen, “Elämä: esipuhe”, and
the second work will be another Arto Paasilinna’s
novel, “Auta armias” [Heaven Help Us].
Do you have an absolute favorite from what
you have worked on?
I would say that the fragment of Volter Kilpi’s
grand novel was the hardest, so it is my hardest
favorite. The other would be Miki Liukkonen’s “O”,
which is the kind of prose I adore – and this would
be the favorite of my heart.
“O”, MIKI LIUKKONEN
TRANSLATED BY
SEBASTIAN MUSIELAK
“O” by Miki Liukkonen,
one of Sebastian
Musielak’s favorite translations,
is making a significant
impact in Poland.
This ambitious, postmodern epic by the
late, acclaimed author, quickly climbed to
the top of Empik’s translated works bestseller
list in July, marking another milestone
for Finnish literature in the country.
Spanning more than 900 pages in the
Polish edition, it follows the deeply connected
lives of over a hundred characters
over the course of just seven days.
”O”, Miki Liukkonen
Publisher: Insignis
Tuomas Asunmaa (Spondeo) and Sebastian Musielak at the Finnish
Independence Day celebration by SPCC. Photo by SPCC
IT SEEMS THAT
THE ABSURD
HUMOUR OF
PAASILINNA
GOES DOWN
WELL IN
POLAND.
”
Are there any other translations
from Finnish that you’d recommend?
Yes, there is one Finnish book that was almost
completely overlooked by the reading public
in Poland. It’s a shame, because it is a deep, but
very entertaining and satisfying piece of writing.
I’m talking about “Wyspa snów” [The Island of
Dreams] by Heikki Kännö, which was published
in Poland last year in Artur Bobotek’s translation.
The book tells a story of a certain artist and his
predecessors, it is more like a grand family
saga with a twist: all of it is founded on Richard
Wagner’s operas and archetypal stories from
Germanic mythology. Heikki Kännö won a very
important Finnish literary prize for it, the Runeberg
Prize, in 2019. It is not a short book, but definitely
worth the time.
What would be your dream book to translate?
I will start translating one of them soon! Miki
Liukkonen’s “Elämä: esipuhe”. My other dream
would be more prose from Daniel Katz,
especially his novel “Saksalainen sikakoira”
[German Pig-Dog] or collection of short stories
“Berberileijonan rakkaus” [Berber Lion], where
there is one story closely connected to Poznań.
Finally, in the age of AI, do you use it as a tool?
It may not capture the soul of the text or
its rhymes, but can it be of any help at all?
Some Polish publishers are toying with the use
of AI translating tools, some use AI to generate
visual content for their publications. But so far,
there seems to be no immediate danger of AI
replacing us literary translators. There have been
tests to assess the pros and cons of using AI as
a tool assisting literary translators in their work,
but at the moment, AI is more of a nuisance than
a help. In addition, there is a growing awareness
of the downfalls of heavy AI use, like deskilling
or losing one’s professional skills through not
using them. In light of all this, I don’t use AI
at all in my literary work.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 67

SECTION 4
www.notesfrompoland.com
contact@notesfrompoland.com
NOTES FROM POLAND TURNS SIX:
THE POWER
OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
AS NOTES FROM POLAND PASSES ITS 6TH ANNIVERSARY, WE SPOKE WITH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
DANIEL TILLES ABOUT HOW THE OUTLET HAS GROWN FROM A PERSONAL BLOG INTO A LEADING
INDEPENDENT SOURCE OF ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWS ON POLAND. HE SHARES THE STORY
BEHIND ITS BEGINNINGS, THE CHALLENGES OF RUNNING A READER-SUPPORTED NON-PROFIT,
AND WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PLATFORM.
Notes from Poland is nearly a decade
old now – how did it start?
Notes from Poland began around a decade ago
as a blog by Stanley Bill, head of Polish Studies
at the University of Cambridge. After several
years, we saw growing demand for reliable English-language
news and analysis about Poland
– a gap that existing media weren’t filling. To meet
that need, we founded a non-profit foundation,
launched a crowdfunding campaign and, in 2019,
turned Notes from Poland into a website offering
daily news and in-depth articles on Polish politics,
society, culture, history, and business.
Did you have a connection to Poland before?
Yes – half of my family is from Poland (the other
half from Finland), so my roots are here, especially
in Kraków. I was born in the UK, but visited
Poland as a child and about 20 years ago I moved
to Kraków to study at the Jagiellonian University.
I was warned that Kraków is a bit of a trap
– once you’re here, it’s hard to leave. It’s true:
two decades later, I’m still here.
You are an independent and objective news
source – how does that set you apart from other
Polish outlets, and are there others like you?
Most media covering Poland are either corporate-owned
or state-funded. As a nonprofit, we
operate differently – all our support comes from
readers and grants. Our core philosophy is covering
the news objectively, presenting multiple
perspectives and never taking sides. Our aim is
to present readers with the information in as reliable,
in-depth and broad a way as possible, not
to try to influence them to think a certain way.
How would you summarize the Polish
media landscape?
Unfortunately, much of the Polish media – both
public and private – is highly partisan, often
reflecting specific political or ideological positions.
At the same time, there are many excellent journalists
and outlets whose work we greatly value.
As a small organization, we often draw on their
reporting and regularly commission articles from
Polish journalists, commentators, and academics.
Running a donation-based organization
must bring challenges – how are you planning
for the future?
Absolutely. In an age of free online content, it’s
hard to persuade readers to support journalism
DANIEL TILLES, Editor-in-Chief at Notes from Poland
Notes from
Poland was
named among
the “media
startups
to watch”
by the Financial
Times’
Sifter news
service
in 2021.
NfP’s work
is only possible
thanks
to the support
of readers.
Please make
a donation to allow
us to continue
providing
high-quality
news and analysis
from Poland:
financially, though we’re very grateful to those
who do – some even donate monthly. There was
an incredible response to our emergency appeal
earlier this year, after we lost US funding. Still,
reader donations cover only part of our budget,
with most funding coming from grants. To ensure
long-term sustainability, we’re diversifying our
income through partnerships, advertising, events,
and expert services – while staying true to our
nonprofit mission of keeping reliable news about
Poland free and accessible to all.
What keeps amusing you in Poland
– and do you have a favourite Polish saying?
Although we mostly cover serious topics,
we love Poland’s quirky side – and so do our
readers. We’ve reported on a “mystery creature”
in a Kraków tree that turned out to be a croissant,
Gacek the cat who became Szczecin’s top tourist
attraction, and even the closure of the famous
666 bus to Hel. When I moved to Poland, I had
to learn the language from scratch and I’ve always
enjoyed discovering idioms. I even wrote an NfP
article about some favourites, like the classic
“Not my circus, not my monkeys” and the
uniquely Polish “electoral sausage.”
And finally, did you say you’re half Finnish?
Yes! As a child, I actually felt closer to my Finnish
roots than my Polish ones – Finnish was even
my first language, though I’ve sadly forgotten
most of it. I spent every summer in Finland,
often at the lakeside mökki my grandfather built,
and I still visit every year to see family.
68 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

A NEW FINNISH-POLISH FILM ANIMATING POLISH CINEMAS IN 2026
FLEAK HITS THE BIG SCREEN IN THE
SPRING. WE SPOKE TO THE CREATORS
IN OUR LAST EDITION, WE INTERVIEWED ANTTI HAIKALA, CREATOR OF THE NIKO REINDEER
ANIMATIONS, WHERE ANTTI TOLD OUR 10-YEAR-OLD REPORTER, MARIA ASUNMAA, ABOUT
THEIR NEXT ANIMATED MOVIE – A STORY ABOUT A DISABLED CHILD. THAT IS NOW READY,
AND FLEAK IS HEADING FOR GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION. THAT WAS THE CUE FOR MARIA TO ONCE
AGAIN JUMP INTO HER REPORTER ROLE AND INTERVIEW THE CREATORS – GRZEGORZ
SKORUPSKI FROM THE POLISH ANIMATION STUDIO ANIMOON.
Where did you get the idea for Fleak?
That’s a question for Antti Haikala – the writer and
director of Fleak. But I can tell you that Thomas, the
main character, is very different from stereotype
Hollywood characters as he had a very unfortunate
incident. However, the story was very important for
us, along with the message to never give up.
Are the characters taken from real life?
It is very often that animation characters reflect
someone we know in real life, maybe the
writer took some elements from his social
circles... For us, the interesting thing was that
we also worked on the Polish dubbing. For that,
my daughter Alicja, 12 years old, was a huge
help. We listened to the voices together to find
the perfect dubber for the character.
Who actually gave the voices for dubbing?
They were adults and children. The dubbing
studio we hired proposed some voices and then
we had a casting and checked who best fit each
role. Sometimes the kids are voiced by adult women,
in Fleak Thomas is played by a young boy and
his brother and sisters are voiced by young adults.
How long did you work on the film?
We started in 2020. That’s when we received
financing from the Polish Film Institute, but
I believe Antti and the Finnish producer had
already started earlier.
Which part of the movie have you seen
most often?
Wow, that’s a tough question. One of the most
watched scenes is when Fleak goes to the kitchen
to break things. That scene took a lot of work
and went through many changes. It came a long
way from a simple black and white drawing to
what you can see on screen now.
How many people worked on the film?
A lot. Around 10 people at the Warsaw office,
about 10 more in the international animation team
coordinated from Poland, plus the composer,
music producers, orchestra, and sound studio. In
addition, many more people were involved on the
side of the other co-producers in Finland, France,
and Malaysia and so on, a very many people.
This is a question from my mom, did you use AI?
In the core work no, but sometimes it helps, like
An adventure about
resilience, family
and the courage
to face your fears
For all pictures © 2025 Anima
Vitae, Animoon, Anima Vitae
Point, Godo Films, Canal+ Poland
Maria Asunmaa,
10 years old
asking what could be done better. But the
film is really a kind of artisan work with lots
of human effort.
Are you already working on a new
film now?
Ha! We are working on 38 projects, all in
different phases! Some of them we have
only just started. Two big projects at the
moment are one about Ukraine for adults
and one about Mozart who comes to the
21st century.
What was the first film you ever
worked on?
It was a series of documentaries about Polish
culture – music, art and so on, and it was
a long time ago. My first animation was one
that came out a couple of years ago, but we
were working on it for 14 years!
Have you made any other Finnish films?
We have done two Moomin ones, actually!
You must like working with films?
It is very interesting work and every film is
different. For example, a very recent one was
done using plasteline, tens of kilos of the stuff!
Doing animations requires writing, sketching,
painting, and it involves lots of colors.
Do Finnish films differ from Polish films?
Well, they are all European films and I like them.
But I think it depends on the particular film itself.
Fleak looks like it is set in a very Finnish house
and neighborhood. Do you take some parts
from your real life, like haircuts or paintings?
All the elements are done by a team of graphic
designers and the creative team. So we
cannot add too much. But when I look at
Fleak, I see some Polish elements there too.
What kind of films do you like?
Fantasies or real life?
I just like good films, and good films can
be fantasy or real life.
And finally, when will Fleak be out
in cinemas in Poland?
The premiere’s on 20 March in Poland. Super
excited! I hope everyone will like it!
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 69

SECTION 4
FINNISH ATHLETES
IN POLISH SPORTS CLUBS
FOOTBALL
Ekstraklasa
FUTSAL
FOGO Futsal Ekstraklasa
ICE-HOCKEY
Tauron Hokej Liga
VOLLEYBALL
Plus Liga
Lech Poznań
Daniel Håkans
Zagłębie Sosnowiec
(II league)
Linus Rönnberg
Daniel Håkans,
Lech Poznań
GI Malepszy Leszno
Antti Koivumäki
Jaxan Śląsk Wrocław
Lassi Lintula
Legia Warszawa
Eric Sylla
Henri Alamikkotervo
Jussi Nyström (Head
Coach)
Piast Gliwice
Jani Korpela
Texom Eurobus Przemyśl
Tuukka Pikkarainen
Comarch Cracovia
Eetu Mäki
Henry Karjalainen
Olli Valtola
Santeri Lipiainen
Tero Määttä (Asst.
Coach)
GKS Katowice
Aleksi Varttinen
Juho Koivusaari
GKS Tychy
Hannu Kuru
Henri Knuutinen
Juuso Walli
Mark Viitanen
Olli Kaskinen
Olli-Petteri Viinikainen
Pekka Tirkkonen
(Head Coach)
Rasmus Heljanko
Valtteri Kakkonen
Energa Trefl Gdańsk
Voitto Köykkä
PGE Projekt Warszawa
Tommi Tiilikainen
(Head Coach)
Tommi Tiilikainen (Head Coach),
PGE Projekt Warszawa
JKH GKS Jastrzębie
Aku Alho
Karolus Kaarlehto
Riku Sihvonen
Leevi Karjalainen,
Polonia Bytom
Eric Sylla,
Legia Warszawa
KH Energa Toruń
Daniil Kulintsev
Vili Laitinen
Sami Hirvonen
(Head Coach)
Polonia Bytom
Miro Lehtimäki
Leevi Karjalainen
Voitto Köykkä,
Energa Trefl Gdańsk
STS Sanok
Lauri Huhdanpää
Miro Lehtimäki,
Polonia Bytom
Juuso Walli,
GKS Tychy
Unia Oświęcim
Aleksi Mäkelä
Erik Ahopelto
Mika Partanen
Ville Heikkinen
Zagłębie Sosnowiec
Erkka Seppälä
Jere Jokinen
Jere-Matias Alanen
Joni Piipponen
Matias Lehtonen
(Head Coach)
Miika Roine
Niilo Halonen
Väinö Sirkiä
Daniil Kulintsev,
KH Energa Toruń
Riku Sihvonen (left), Aku Alho
(right), JKH GKS Jastrzębie
Pictures: Przemysław Szyszka-Lech Poznań, arenaakcji.pl/bytomski-hokej.pl-Polonia Bytom (2), JKH GKS Jastrzębie, Katarzyna Dżuchil-Legia Warszawa Futsal, Łukasz Sobala-GKS Tychy (2), PGE Projekt
Warszawa, Energa Trefl Gdańsk-058sport.pl, KH Energa Toruń (2).
70 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland
Pekka Tirkkonen (Head Coach),
GKS Tychy
Sami Hirvonen (Head Coach),
KH Energa Toruń

www.legiafutsal.com
A FINNISH COACH IN POLISH
FUTSAL EKSTRAKLASA
THE POLISH FUTSAL EKSTRAKLASA JUST GOT A STRONG DOSE OF SISU. JUSSI NYSTRÖM,
THE HIGHLY REGARDED 36-YEAR-OLD FINNISH COACH, IS SET TO BRING A BLEND OF NORDIC
RIGOR AND COMPETITIVE EXPERIENCE TO THE POLISH FUTSAL EKSTRAKLASA, HAVING BEEN
APPOINTED THE HEAD COACH OF LEGIA WARSZAWA FOR THE 2025/26 SEASON. SPONDEO
SPOKE WITH JUSSI NYSTRÖM ABOUT POLAND, LEGIA AND HIS PLANS.
How did you end up in Poland and Warsaw,
was it a planned move?
I was assistant coach of the national team
of Finland, and there were already a few Finnish
players in Poland. I chatted about opportunities
with an agent during the New Year and signed
in the spring. Finally, I moved to Warsaw at
the end of July.
I understand the Polish league is rather
high class?
It’s a high-quality league – clearly a step below the
Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, or Croatian levels, but
right behind them and catching up. An example of
this is Piast, where Jani Korpela is playing, which
made the Champions League Top 16.
A handful of Finns are already in the Polish
league – how many in all? But the coaching
presence seems far thinner.
Besides Jani, there are Tuukka Pikkarainen at
Eurobus, Antti Koivumäki at Leszno and two
guys at Legia, Henri Alamikkotervo – imagine
how easy that is to pronounce here – and Eric
Sylla. As for coaches, it’s only me, and not many
Finnish coaches yet in the top European leagues.
So you are a frontrunner here! How is futsal
in Poland? I understand it is also a sport
in smaller towns.
Football is number one, of course, and the big
football clubs are now investing also in futsal, like
Legia. But there is still a lot to do, to make futsal
more popular in Poland. There are only around four
top teams who are fully professional, and then
a middle level with a mix of pros and amateurs.
Legia is probably recognized wherever
you go, right?
Legia as a club has a very rich history, and in
Poland it is one of the most recognizable names.
Wherever we play away, the arenas are packed.
Luckily, I don’t understand what the opposing fans
are shouting at us, so I can only imagine it. When
it comes to our own supporters, they are truly our
sixth player. The stands are filled not only with
the most dedicated ultras you’d normally see
at football matches, but also with families and
many young fans. Their support means a lot to us.
How has the season been so far?
We have mostly been playing away, with just
five home games, so it was a rough start. We are
heading towards the playoffs, but it is getting
very tight behind the top teams. We have a young
JUSSI NYSTRÖM,
Head Coach at
Legia Warszawa
Futsal
Photos by Katarzyna
Dżuchil / Legia
Warszawa Futsal
team and 80% of the players are new to the team,
so we are learning and getting there. The guys are
playing well, but experience is key in futsal and
we are not there yet. Everything is open, if and
when we make it to the playoffs.
How are you finding life in Warsaw as an expat?
Everything has gone fine for me. Luckily, my
apartment is close to the hall so I don’t get stuck
in traffic, which is just crazy. Twice a week we
have weightlifting in a different place about 7 km
away. Believe it or not, I am used to running there,
because it is faster than public transport.
And since you have had mostly matches
outside of Warsaw, have you learnt any
lessons from the countryside?
At the beginning of November, we were traveling
for an away match in Sierakowice. Normally, the
trip takes a few hours, and we had even planned
extra time to arrive at least one and a half hours
before the game. However, the beginning of
November in Poland is marked by All Saints’ Day,
a very important holiday here. Because of this,
many roads near cemeteries and churches were
closed or heavily congested, making it difficult
for us to get through. This caused a delay in our
arrival and left us with much less time to properly
prepare for the match.
You have a one-year contract, would you
like an extension?
Let’s see what the future brings; it is a tempting
idea, of course. Besides coaching I am also interested
in different business opportunities.
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 71

MAPS & INFOGRAPHICS
FINNISH COMPANIES
IN POLAND BY INDUSTRY
BASED ON SPONDEO’S OWN RESEARCH ON FINNISH COMPANIES REGISTERED
IN POLAND AS BRANCHES OR SUBSIDIARIES
AROUND
250 300
FINNISH COMPANIES
FINNISH DAUGHTER
COMPANIES
OPERATING THROUGH
AROUND
SALES PARTNERS
PRODUCTION
72 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM FINLAND TO POLAND
BASED ON SPONDEO’S OWN RESEARCH
REGULAR CONNECTIONS:
FINNAIR
Helsinki (HEL) - Gdańsk (GDN) | 2 hours and 15 minutes
Helsinki (HEL) - Kraków (KRK) | 1 hour and 50 minutes
Helsinki (HEL) - Warsaw (WAW) | 1 hour and 45 minutes
RYANAIR
Helsinki (HEL) - Warsaw/Modlin (WMI) | 1 hour and 55 minutes
WIZZAIR
Turku (TKU) - Gdańsk (GDN) | 1 hour and 30 minutes
SEASONAL CONNECTIONS:
LOT
Rovaniemi (RVN) - Warsaw (WAW) | 2 hours and 45 minutes
27 November 2025 - 1 February 2026
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT),
R&D AND SERVICE CENTERS
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 73

MAPS & INFOGRAPHICS
TOP 10 LARGEST FINNISH EMPLOYERS IN POLAND
BY HEADCOUNT IN 2024, APPROXIMATE FIGURES, ON THE BASIS OF SPONDEO’S OWN RESEARCH
SERVICES & OTHER
74 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

BUSINESS CULTURE CLASH:
POLISH AND FINNISH PERSPECTIVES
UNDERSTANDING STEREOTYPES THAT SHAPE PROFESSIONAL INTERACTIONS
IN POLAND AND FINLAND ON THE BASIS OF SPONDEO’S OWN EXPERIENCE
POLISH
FINNISH
Formal
Hierarchical
Contract
Talk & communicate
Confirm the orders and tasks
Emotional
Want to be 100% sure
Long answers
Glass half empty
Feedback really important
Informal
Flat
Handshake or email
Email
Say things once
Hide feelings
95% is enough
“Ok sure”
Full glass
Feedback once per year
Build your business with us.
Your designer and general contractor
for modern and energy-efficient facilities
industrial
construction
warehouses and
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office
buildings
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business solutions
more at wpip.pl

TOP 30
MAPS & INFOGRAPHICS
FINNISH COMPANIES
IN POLAND BY SALES
DATA AS OF 2024, BASED ON SPONDEO’S OWN RESEARCH (EUR/PLN 4.25)
76 FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland

Malta Lake
Posnania mall
Poznań University
of Technology
Rataje roundabout
FINNISH BUSINESS & CULTURE in Poland 77

GROWTH SUPPORT
ABOUT SPONDEO AND OUR SERVICES
FROM POLAND
Spondeo is a Finnish-Polish family
business founded in 2014 in Poznań
to support investors entering and
growing in the Polish and broader CEE
markets. Today, our 10-member team
manages projects for around
70 companies annually, from startups
and scaleups to listed corporations.
We work across a range of sectors,
most often in manufacturing,
WE OFFER:
defence, energy, retail, and IT.
In 2025 alone, we have taken our clients
on visits to more than 30 factories in
Poland and participated in dozens of
industry events. We also publish
a famous, free monthly newsletter
“Business news from Poland” for more
than 2,000 subscribers and actively
share insights on LinkedIn.
Guided by our core values – transparency,
flexibility, and hands-on
professionalism – we are committed
to delivering the best services. Agile,
cost-effective, and strongly networked,
we provide an alternative to large consulting
firms while maintaining a highly
personalized approach.
Why work with us? We understand
people, processes, cultural nuances,
and the rhythm of local business life!
GO-TO-MARKET
PROJECTS
Market research
& analysis
Business partner search
Early phase kick-off
Study trip
Interim management
Project manager
& assistant leasing
SALES
STRATEGIES
Target customers maps
New client & RFQ acquisition
Sales partner network building
Events & fairs
Sales or project manager leasing
for interim periods
Sales materials
localization
CONSULTING
& ADVISORY
M&A projects
Market advisory
Market specific ad hocs
Real estate search
Management support
& training
Second opinions
And other ad hocs
RECRUITMENT
& HEADHUNTING
Full cycle recruitment
Headhunting & direct search
Recruiter team as a service
HR consulting
FIND US:
WWW.SPONDEO.PL LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM
PUBLICATIONS
NEWSLETTER
78 FINNISH BUSINESS&CULTURE in Poland

MEET OUR TEAM
AND GET TO KNOW US AND OUR WORK
TUOMAS
ASUNMAA
Co-Founder & CEO
Tuomas is Spondeo CEO and handson
entrepreneur dedicated to boost
Nordic companies to grow in Poland
and CEE. He is passionate about
promoting Finnish-Polish relationships
and likes music, track & field,
cross country skiing and reading
books & magazines. During 2025,
he has learnt to use thermomix and
spin hulahoop, but failed in javelin
throwing. Together with the Spondeo
team he served over 70 clients in
2025, and looks to improve that
figure in 2026!
WERONIKA
GIDEL-ASUNMAA
Co-Founder
& Headhunter
Weronika Gidel-Asunmaa is the
co-founder of Spondeo and a headhunting
professional. She specializes
in connecting Finnish clients with top
talent from Poland. The year 2025
marked an interesting shift in her
focus, as she became involved
in cross-border projects. She also
oversees the company’s Newsletter
and LinkedIn content. Weronika discovered
a passion for public speaking,
so you will meet her at Spondeo’s
events. Outside of work, she is
a proud mom to her daughter, Maria,
and an aspiring cross-country skier.
ANDRZEJ
WIŚNIEWSKI
Senior Business
Advisor
Andrzej joined Spondeo in 2016
with only a basic understanding
of Finns and Finland. Over the years,
he has come to admire their moral
character, originality, and dry sense
of humor. His work in cross-border
business development and market
entry projects fuels his passion for
fostering intercultural understanding
and cooperation. Action-oriented
and agile, Andrzej seeks practical
and creative solutions. Outside
work, he enjoys sports, hiking
in Polish mountains, and relaxing
in a Finnish sauna.
ANNA
JĘDRZEJEWSKA
Recruiter & Business
Consultant
Anna joined Spondeo in June 2021
and works across talent acquisition
and market entry projects. Her
role involves conducting research,
developing creative presentations,
and designing graphics for internal
and client use. She combines
creativity with analytical thinking to
turn insights into practical solutions
that support consulting initiatives.
Curious by nature, she is especially
interested in psychology, cultures,
languages, and photography.
TANIA
SEN
Talent Sourcer
Tania holds a bachelor’s degree
in English Language. She has a
background as a language tutor and
has contributed to creative projects
at the Lviv Regional Youth Center.
Her passion for helping individuals
discover their ideal career paths led
her to the role of Talent Acquisition
Specialist at Spondeo. Tania indulges
in clay sculpting, film photography,
and watercolor painting. Her favorite
show is “How To With John Wilson”
because it resonates with her passion
for creative writing, street photography
and wholesome human nature.
PIOTR
GIDEL
Consultant
Piotr joined Spondeo in 2022.
He is a graduate of the Department
of Law at the University of Wrocław.
Most of his professional career Piotr
has worked in broadly understood
HR, from recruitment and retention
to human resources management
- with each and every project closely
related to Finnish market. At work
always goal-oriented and scrupulous
yet not headstrong to the
limits. Loves to travel and meet
new people. Big fan of Finnish
sauna and northern lights.
ANNA
GOLIŃCZAK
Senior Sales
Advisor
Anna joined Spondeo in 2024
as a senior sales advisor with over
23 years of experience in the
international environment, various
industries, focused on business development,
sales & communication.
Intercultural management as her
interest, education and consulting
activities. Economic (Executive MBA
in Poznan University of Economics
and Georgia State University), PR,
literature and art universities
background. Her favourite sport:
books & interior design.
JOONAS
MÄKILÄ
Partner for
the Czech Market
Joonas, a seasoned business professional
situated in Prague, boasts two
decades of expertise in the FMCG
and hospitality sectors, spanning
local and international markets.
His career encompasses roles within
multinational corporations, as well
as contributions to private equity-backed
and entrepreneurial
ventures. Presently, Joonas serves
as the founder of the Bohemian
Growth Company, dedicated to
assisting companies in unlocking
their full growth potential.
DAVID
SLADOVNIK
Czech Sales
Advisor
David joined Spondeo in 2025 with
a degree in International Marketing
and Sales and experience in global
marketing and commercial roles.
He excels in brand strategy, market
execution, and cross-team collaboration.
Based in the Czech Republic,
he brings a performance-driven
mindset and strong partnership
skills. Curious and people-oriented,
he turns ideas into results. Outside
work, he’s a sports enthusiast, hiker,
and fan of mountain sunrises, clean
design, and good coffee.

Special thanks to the patron of the publication, the Embassy of Finland in Warsaw,
and all the following companies for their support