Pääministeri Orpon puhe Pohjanmaa-luokan korvetin vesillelaskuseremoniassa Raumalla 21.5.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo gave a speech at the launch ceremony of the first Pohjanmaa-class corvette in Rauma on 21 May. Speech to be checked against delivery. Puhe vain englanniksi.

Distinguished guests,

It is a great honour to be here with you on this important occasion.

When the Squadron 2020 procurement decision was approved just over five years ago, the world was a very different place. This is true of Finland’s position on the world stage, the security situation in Europe, great power politics – and the Finnish maritime industry cluster and Rauma shipyard.

There were signs that change was coming. But as it often happens, the pace of change took us by surprise. Finland has not simply drifted with the tide. The past five years have shown how a well-prepared society can weather the world’s storms.

The biggest change is Russia’s transformation into an aggressive and unpredictable country that poses a security threat to Europe as a whole.

We are closely involved in supporting Ukraine. Finland has called for an immediate ceasefire, a transition to peace talks and a just and lasting peace. I hope that the negotiations that have now cautiously begun will lead to a stable solution for Ukraine and Europe.

I am pleased to see how Europe is now speaking with a strong and unified voice. We stand with Ukraine on the road to peace and the end of Russia’s war of aggression.

Ladies and Gentleman,

The ice-going multi-role corvettes now being built for the Navy, and the industrial know-how developed during the project will strengthen our comprehensive national security in the decades to come.
This launching event shows that the Defence Forces’ strategic capability project is progressing, and that investments in our national defence capabilities are bearing fruit.

The ships are also a reminder to our allies that we have always done our part. And we will continue to do so going forward.

Distinguished guests,

Security policy is naturally closely linked to industrial policy.
We have kept up the industries critical for our security and security of supply. Even when it was not in fashion.

A successful maritime industry cluster is vital for Finland’s security and our security of supply. Finland is the only country in the world where all ports freeze over at some point during the winter. Almost all of our foreign trade flows by sea.

For this reason, Finland has developed unique expertise by international standards – something that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. This is something we should be proud of.

Today, there is a pressing need for this know-how both here in Finland and among our partners. The Arctic region has risen to the centre of great power politics. The need for modern multi-role ice-going vessels and icebreakers has therefore grown swiftly and significantly. There is an urgent need for new need for new vessels.

At the moment, the main players able to operate in the Arctic region are Russia and China. As an expert in the Arctic, Finland and Finnish know-how are becoming very valuable.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The focus of tensions between great powers has been shifting to Asia for a long time now. The United States is not withdrawing completely from Europe, but it is true that our continent has to take more responsibility for its defence in the future.

NATO is planning to increase its defence spending target this year. The Minister of Defence and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have actively participated in the preparations for the Hague Summit in the summer, where decisions will be made on the new target and its timeframe.

We will therefore see a significant increase in demand for the know-how and products we are admiring here today.

Distinguished guests,

The launching of the multi-role corvettes has a significant strategic value in highlighting Finnish shipbuilding know-how both in Finland and internationally.

To our Nordic allies, I would like to say: With the construction of the Pohjanmaa-class corvettes, Finland and RMC have created a reference that has significant value.

This corvette is just the first example of our world class expertise. Rauma has the processes, equipment, and expertise to help you and our other allies. Implementing investments at this scale and ramping up shipbuilding expertise does not happen overnight. Rebuilding our common core military capabilities is a challenge we can overcome together.

Let’s deepen cooperation to increase our joint maritime capabilities. The Baltic Sea is our common sea. Let’s make sure it remains safe, both now and in the future.

And to our Swedish friends: as we discussed at the meeting of the Finnish and Swedish governments in Stockholm last September: our capabilities contribute to security and stability both within and outside our region. The Squadron 2020 project is a prime example of this.

Distinguished guests,

The Rauma shipyard has an honourable past and, based on what we see here today, an even brighter future. Just a few years ago, the shipyard and the maritime industry more broadly was suffering from inflation in shipbuilding. There were blows to profitability in an already challenging market environment.

Rauma has historically built all the most important vessels for the Finnish Navy. Now, investments have improved the shipyard’s ability to make ships that meet modern requirements. The products are world-class.

The City of Rauma has played a major role in this. The shipyard operates in an industrial park owned by the city. The city’s active approach to investing in and supporting shipbuilding has been very important. Educational institutions in the region also train professionals for various tasks in shipbuilding and the maritime sector. I would like to congratulate all of you. You have truly done a great job.

Finland has to maintain a clear picture of the situation in which our companies in this nationally important sector have to navigate.

The maritime industry has a huge impact on employment and regional vitality. The maritime industry, with its shipyards and subcontracting chains, employs nearly 50,000 households in some 2,000 companies.

That is why we should be hopeful. The outlook has grown more stable and more promising.

The need to increase capabilities in the Arctic region on the one hand, and the significant needs of the defence industry on the other, are generating exceptional demand.

The State plays a strong role in the maritime industry in Finland, too. The national significance of the sector is widely understood in politics. The State works continuously to strengthen the operating conditions of the maritime industry. The Government discusses issues related to shipyards and the maritime industry every month.
Each time, our goal is to create new perspectives; new ways we can grow and succeed together.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Rauma has had faith in the future and made difficult decisions in difficult times.
Now, those difficult solutions are bearing fruit that the whole region, Finland and our allies can enjoy in the years to come.

Likewise, the Government believes that a better future is possible, as long as we have the courage to make responsible decisions. Just like at the Rauma shipyard, there are already signs that the Finnish economy is perking up.

I would especially like to congratulate the shipyard, its management and its employees for your hard work. I would also like to thank those who have been active in the region more broadly, our partners, and the Defence Forces. Together we have launched this ship, and we will launch more in the future.

Together, we are building a growing maritime industry cluster in Finland to keep Finland and Finns safe, and to make sustainable economic growth a reality.