New Economic Development Centres have started operating on 1 January 2026

The reform of regional state administration has established 10 Economic Development Centres on the basis of the previous 15 ELY Centres. The Economic Development Centres will be responsible for tasks relating to areas such as business and industry, rural areas, transport, the environment and natural resources.

The Economic Development Centres will promote regional vitality in a multidisciplinary and cooperative manner. They have offices in all regions and employ nearly 2,000 people. Most of the tasks of the previous ELY Centres have been transferred to the Economic Development Centres. 

Environmental permit and supervision tasks will be transferred to the Finnish Supervisory Agency to be established. The tasks of public passenger transport will be transferred to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.

The regional state administration reform is based on Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government Programme. The aim of the reform is to create a multidisciplinary regional state administration that streamlines the services for citizens and companies.