2024 was a landmark year for Mikkeli. The decision to locate the NATO Multi-Corps Land Component Command in Mikkeli reinforces the city’s strategic role in comprehensive security and international cooperation. This development also strengthens Mikkeli’s position as an attractive destination for companies across various industries.
Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd works in close partnership with the City of Mikkeli under a long-term service agreement. Our mission is to support sustainable growth by strengthening the city’s vitality, business environment, and overall appeal.
Tourism and second home living are key drivers of vitality in Mikkeli
We are committed to helping local travel businesses grow and enhance the appeal of the Lake Saimaa region. We also promote second home living in a responsible and sustainable way.
In 2024, Mikkeli’s travel sector outperformed the national trend. Registered overnight stays increased by 1.1%, compared to a decline of 0.7% across Finland and 5.7% in the Finnish Lakeland region. International overnight stays in Mikkeli rose by 4.4%. Registered accommodation sales reached €10.4 million.
The LakeSaimaa 2.0 project helped seven Mikkeli-based companies break into new international markets, including the UK, the US, and France. International media coverage reached 53 mentions, while influencer-related hits totalled an impressive 107.
Business relocation, sustainability, and building the future
In 2024 our efforts led to the creation of 221 new jobs in local companies and the relocation of 15 new businesses to Mikkeli. By the end of the year, nearly all industrial plots in the city had been reserved.
Seventeen feasibility studies were launched during the year to assess the potential for energy-intensive industrial investments. These projects, with a combined estimated value of €7 billion, focused particularly on data centres, solar power, and renewable electricity.
We also began laying the groundwork to attract more direct EU funding to the region. Our goal is to transition, by the next funding period starting in 2028, towards participation in international consortia and to introduce new funding instruments alongside declining structural funds. As a first step, we submitted seven applications to the Interreg Central Baltic programme.
Driving development for Mikkeli
Development projects make up around 75% of our overall operations and are primarily funded by the EU’s structural funds. In 2024, Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd was running as many as 22 projects in parallel, each contributing to the goals outlined in our service agreement with the City of Mikkeli.
Our development efforts focus on five key areas:
- Business growth, internationalisation, and competitiveness
- Travel and second home living
- Networks and platform ecosystems
- Sustainability and the circular economy
- Internationalisation and investment promotion
Highlights of our impact in 2024
- Lake Saimaa’s international profile as a top travel destination continued to grow
- A rock art pop-up info opened in Ristiina, Mikkeli
- Mikkeli saw an increase in registered overnight stays defying the national trend
- 15 new companies chose Mikkeli as their location
- 221 new jobs were created in local businesses
- Nearly all industrial plots in the city were reserved
- A new business cluster emerged around electric mobility
- Multiple industrial investments worth tens of millions of euros were launched
- Feasibility studies for energy-intensive industrial projects reached a total value of €7 billion
Collaboration is the foundation of meaningful progress
At Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd our impact is rooted in broad-based collaboration. The commitment of businesses, the city, universities, public sector actors, and other partners has been vital to achieving our shared goals. For us collaboration is not just a tool, but a prerequisite for sustainable and meaningful development.
A heartfelt thank you to all our partners. Together, we are shaping the future of Mikkeli.
