Finnish construction company Elementit-E expands operations to Ovrutch, Ukraine with government support

A Finnish construction company based in Kouvola, Elementit-E, which specializes in building modular schools and daycare centers, has received support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish operations in Ukraine. The company aims to leverage its expertise by introducing its construction methods to the border town of Ovrutch in Ukraine.

Veli Hyyryläinen, the CEO, envisions a future where a local factory in Ukraine applies their techniques. With hundreds of schools destroyed during the ongoing war, the need for reconstruction is urgent. The company is currently assessing operational conditions in the region, local building regulations, and potential facilities with the help of a local contact.

Elementit-E’s factory in Kouvola operates in a former machine shop, and Hyyryläinen suggests that a similar industrial site could be found in Ovrutch. He notes the availability of local raw materials, particularly timber, as a significant advantage.

The Ministry has allocated €3.2 million in business partnership support to 21 companies involved in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts, and Oskar Kass, a lead at the Ministry’s Development Policy Department, expects the number to increase by the end of the year as more applications arrive. The construction sector has the highest representation among these applicants, although there are also companies from IT, energy, education, and health sectors.

The international competition for projects in Ukraine is fierce, according to Kass, as many firms from around the world, especially in Europe, are keen to contribute to the rebuilding efforts. Antti Vänskä, the Ministry’s ambassador for Ukraine reconstruction, emphasized the immense need for restoring critical infrastructure, including schools, roads, and bridges.