Three reasons for Åland
1. Competitive economy
The Åland Islands has long-standing shipping traditions and it permeates the entire society. Åland is very much a service economy and competence is one of the key traits associated with the business community. This competence has been built during a long period of time, and spin offs from the shipping industry have helped to discover new business concepts. The business sector has proven to be resilient despite the global financial crisis. According to statistics from Eurostat, in 2006 Åland was the 20th wealthiest region in the European Union.
2. Strategic location
Excellent sea, air and road links make Åland an important business hub with easy access to the rest of Scandinavia. The prime location in the heart of Scandinavia, near dynamic cities like Stockholm, Turku, Helsinki and Tallinn has really benefited the Åland economy. Åland has over the years developed an expertise in logistics management. A combination of strategic location, excellent infrastructure and competence has made the logistics industry grow rapidly.
3. International business environment
An international outlook and openness is firmly ingrained in the Ålandic culture. Åland is not an isolated island in the periphery. The economy is surprisingly wide and cross trading is part of everyday life. The international business community is a strong reason why most of the population is bilingual or multilingual.
