More and more infrastructure companies are eyeing the Swedish market - what awaits there?

INFRA ry members have been receiving more and more inquiries about expanding into the Swedish market. The inquiries concern, for example, contract agreements, employment issues, personal and machinery insurance, reporting to authorities and taxation. Northern Finland and Ostrobothnia are the focus, but individual inquiries come from all over Finland. The threshold for going to Sweden has probably lowered, as large, growth-minded Finnish companies have launched large contracts there and established subsidiaries. Smaller members feel that it is easier to go into the partner chain of a Finnish-based main contractor. Those who have gone to Sweden emphasize advance preparation; the time and money invested in it is visible during the contract. INFRA's guide to contracting in Sweden helps you assess your own capabilities and identify the things you need to find out about.

I worked at Kreate Sverige as a project engineer at the Stockholm bypass tunnel construction site during the summer. My duties included, among other things, keeping a site diary, managing personnel and machine resources, scheduling and reporting. The work culture emphasized social interaction; fika moments, or coffee breaks, were highly valued and we tried to eat lunch together. The “Scandinavian language” was used – Swedish and Norwegian in sweet harmony. English was supplemented as needed, and Polish and Estonian were also heard on the construction site. My Swedish school grade was commendable, but my practical language skills were perhaps average. Written communication is better. My Swedish skills were still good enough for my work tasks. I would not have guessed that my infrastructure studies would immediately lead to work abroad. When you get such an opportunity, it is worth taking it boldly and brushing up on your Swedish beforehand. I am absolutely grateful for this valuable learning experience.

Finnish infrastructure companies' interest in Sweden has grown in recent years. The reasons are the same as those for Estonians coming to Finland or Ukrainians going to Estonia: we are moving towards better markets. Finns certainly have good opportunities in Sweden. The most important thing is to do things right when planning the enlargement decision. It is not worth going to another country to experiment with projects. Swedish public clients lobby their projects abroad, and officially foreign operators are very welcome, but in practice things are not always so rosy. I have also come across prejudices. The best way to respond to them is to respect the country's operating methods and regulations. You need to find out about them in advance. There is a misconception that things are done the same everywhere or that your own way of doing things is acceptable in a new country. Humility is always healthy, language and professional skills are essential. You should not go to Sweden thinking that you can get by with English. It can be difficult for a Finnish operator to recruit personnel, but finding local personnel is a prerequisite for long-term operations.