Finnish design and consulting work in the construction industry is advancing in leaps and bounds in Russia, the Baltic states and eastern Europe. With the high quality, reliability and efficient operations there is plenty of demand.

“Finns have done well in the competition with other operators; our reputation is good and the operating methods reliable,” says Antti Nykänen, the marketing manager at Evata Finland Oy.

Seen from the perspective of the Helsinki architectural and consulting office, the markets in Finland’s eastern neighbour are extremely interesting. “The Russian market does not provide enough design services. So there is great interest in foreign players.”

The quick eat the slow

In Russia a major structural change is taking place which is leading to increased demand for modern operating premises, housing and industrial projects, and for leisure-time housing. The country’s strengthening economy is furthering the construction boom.

“The size of the projects in Russia is large and the timetables tight, which suits players who are in a position to allocate a lot of capacity for projects quickly,” Nykänen says.

Evata is also active in the Baltic states. In Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania the company has been particularly active in shopping centre projects in which the consulting services covered the development of the commercial concept, architectural design and interior design.

“On the markets of eastern Europe we serve both international and local clients,” Nykänen adds.

Precast concrete creates interest

The FMC Group (Finnmap Consulting), a planning and consulting company in the construction industry, set up a design office called FM Stroiprojekt in St Petersburg three years ago. Local and foreign clients look to Finnish designers for quality and observance of timetables.

“The prices of Russian offices, especially in the big cities, have gone up so that Finnish designers are more competitive than before,” says CEO Tage Eriksson.

Russian building firms are particularly interested in Finnish expertise in applying prefabricated concrete technology. In recent years Finnmap has had several design projects that involve the use of the precast concrete method by Russian building firms.

The Russians’ desire to update their production technology is creating a big demand in the precast concrete method’s design.

“Finns have invested systematically and long term in developing the building technology. This intellectual property is of interest when the aim is better, quicker and more efficient building,” Eriksson stresses.

Limitless markets

Tage Eriksson says the Russian market is at this moment limitless. Prospects are good, for a few years at least. The capital flow into the country from the sale of oil and natural gas can be put to good use in improving the country’s infrastructure and standard of living.

“Thanks to the development of our resources our ability to provide a service and at the same time our opportunities have improved enormously. We can provide service on an increasingly wider basis ranging from initial surveys to contractor services, design and supervision.”

In addition to Russia, Finnmap Consulting also operates in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.

Technology city near Moscow Finnish success abroad is shown by the design concept for a technology and business park of two million square metres that is going up in the city of Zelenograd. Research and development units in several high-tech areas and companies that commercially exploit the units’ scientific results operate in the city, which is near Moscow. The aim of the giant project is to acquire more foreign high-tech companies for the area. One of the Russian Federation’s eight Special Economic Zones was set up in Zelenograd. The city has a population of 250,000.

>> www.evata.fi
>> www.finnmapcons.fi

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(Photo: Finnmap Consulting)