Päijät-Häme businesses and Business Lahti take centre stage at the National Entrepreneur Days
18.9.2026
Business Lahti & Päijät-Hämeen Yrittäjät
Press release 18 September 2026
The National Entrepreneurs Days of Suomen Yrittäjät (national, regional and local advocacy for small and medium entrepreneurs) will bring as many as 1,500 entrepreneurs and economic development professionals from across Finland to Lahti on 16–17 October 2026. The event’s new "Vitality Street" showcase will highlight 34 businesses from Päijät-Häme region and their expertise. It will also introduce Business Lahti, the regional economic development company that began operations in July, to entrepreneurs from across Finland.
"Vitality Street" showcases collaboration and expertise in Päijät-Häme region
"Vitality Street" will feature a diverse group of businesses of different sizes from across the region. Participants include Lehmonkärki Resort from Asikkala, Redox from Hartola, Ruskovilla from Orimattila, NP Housukauppa from Lahti and Korvenranta from Kärkölä. This range of businesses reflects Päijät-Häme’s diverse economic structure, strong entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to building vitality across the region through collaboration in many different sectors. Business Lahti will also be presented at Elinvoimakatu. The company brings the region’s business advisory, growth, business location, Invest in and tourism services (Visit Lahti) under one roof.
“For us, the National Entrepreneur Days will also mark Business Lahti’s national debut. The economic development company LADEC and the tourism company Visit Lahti have operated as a single company under the Business Lahti name since the beginning of July. We are currently building a strong, commercially driven organisation in which tourism, alongside industry and other business activity, serves as an engine of regional growth,” says Raija Forsman, CEO of Business Lahti.
Business Lahti offers businesses, investors, talent and visitors a more integrated range of services while strengthening the competitiveness, appeal and visibility of Päijät-Häme region as a whole.
Päijät-Hämeen Yrittäjät: “The region does more than talk about renewal – it takes action”
Heta Vihervirta-Vuontelo, CEO of Päijät-Hämeen Yrittäjät (one of the regional associations of Suomen Yrittäjät), sees the launch of Business Lahti as a significant boost to growth, vitality and business activity across the region.
“This is truly fantastic. Combining resources and expertise is a powerful demonstration that our region does not merely talk about renewal, but also takes concrete action to accelerate growth and vitality.”
The entrepreneurs’ association also considers the closer integration of tourism into growth and economic development policy particularly important.
“It is a wise decision to give tourism a stronger role in economic development policy and regional development. Tourism has a broad impact across the business community, where most operators are small and medium-sized enterprises. Every visitor to the region is a potential customer for local businesses, and every new professional or investment helps strengthen demand, growth and vitality in the region.”
The Päijät-Hämeen Yrittäjät sees considerable potential in the new company:
“Business Lahti can build an even stronger, more attractive and more business-oriented future for the entire region – across all sectors.”
LADEC and Visit Lahti have merged – we now serve customers as Business Lahti
The operations of Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd and the tourism company Lahden seutu – Lahti Region Oy merged on 1 July 2026. The arrangement was implemented as a business acquisition in which LADEC’s business operations were transferred to Lahden seutu – Lahti Region Oy. The company is owned by the municipalities of Lahti, Asikkala, Heinola, Hartola, Hollola, Iitti, Kärkölä, Orimattila, Padasjoki and Sysmä.
Business Lahti now brings together start-up and business advisory services, business growth and development services, business location and Invest in services, tourism development and regional marketing. We work closely with businesses, partners and our owner municipalities to build vitality across the region.
Tourism services will continue to be marketed under the familiar Visit Lahti brand.
The media and our partners should note the following changes:
- The company’s official name is Lahden seutu – Lahti Region Oy. The official name is used particularly in legal and administrative contexts, including agreements, invoicing, decisions and other official documents.
- Our staff email addresses follow the format firstname.lastname@businesslahti.fi. Visit Lahti staff also use email addresses ending in @visitlahti.fi.
- Our website is businesslahti.fi.
Further information:
Raija Forsman
CEO | Business Lahti
+358 40 516 2803
raija.forsman@businesslahti.fi
Heta Vihervirta-Vuontelo
CEO | Päijät-Hämeen Yrittäjät (a regional association of Suomen Yrittäjät)
+358 40 085 4995
heta.vihervirta-vuontelo@yrittajat.fi
The National Entrepreneur Days will also bring a host of prominent speakers and topical discussion leaders to Lahti. Speakers include Sipe Santapukki, drummer, founding member and CEO of the band Apulanta; actor Krista Kosonen; Juha-Matti Saksa, Rector of LUT University; and entrepreneur and former Prime Minister of Finland Juha Sipilä. The talks will explore topics including renewal, growth, leadership and the changes that artificial intelligence is bringing to working life and business. Tickets for the National Entrepreneur Days will remain on sale until 1 October 2026.
National Entrepreneur Days 2026:
https://me.yrittajat.fi/valtakunnalliset-yrittajapaivat/
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Business Lahti & Visit Lahti – Sustainable growth together!
Together, we are building a growing and attractive Lahti region. As Finland’s strongest economic development company jointly serving an entire region, we help local businesses grow and attract new businesses, investments, talent and visitors to the region. Our owner municipalities are Lahti, Asikkala, Heinola, Hartola, Hollola, Iitti, Kärkölä, Orimattila, Padasjoki and Sysmä.