About us
Ålands Företagareförening rf - The Entrepreneurs' Association of Åland - is
an idealistic organisation promoting private entrepreneurship and
small businesses. The association was founded in 1957 by a group of independent
entrepreneurs, who saw the need to broaden the local industry in order
to develop new jobs and stabilize the economy. General decision-making body is
the board, which is elected by the annual meeting.
The board consists of nine regular members and four deputy members,
representing different trades and companies of different sizes. Chairman is Mr
Dick Jansson, entrepreneur and CEO of SAJ
Instrument Ltd. Daily operations are led by the
manager and only employee, Mr Jonny
Mattsson.
Our office
is situated in central Mariehamn.
What we do
We act as a center for supporting small and medium sized companies. Today we
represent over 200 member companies in almost all lines of trade. Company sizes range
from single entrepreneurs to leading Åland companies with over 100 employees.
The average size of our member companies is 8 employees.
Our main activities are factfinding and information
service, assistance in matters of wages, taxes and VAT, financing and accounting,
starting up new businesses, arranging courses and seminars and looking after the
entrepreneurs' best interest in general.
We are also co-publishers of the national swedish magazine for entrepreneurs
and operate a local Internet-based
business exchange service in co-operation with the Åland Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to this we have signed several
agreements on economical benefits for our members.
Important partnerships
We also co-operate closely with other business organisations and take part in
bodies and projects run by local authorities. Futhermore we are stakeholders in
local companies providing industrial premises.
The association is a member of the national federations of entrepreneurs in Finland
(Företagarna i Finland) with 110,000
member companies and in Sweden (Företagarna) with about
80,000 members.
Leading the way to prosperity
Today the manufacturing sector as a whole employs about 1,200 people and makes
up for about 8 per cent of the Åland GDP. The largest areas of business
in the sector are food processing, hi-tech plastics, metalworking &
engineering and carpentry & wood processing. Other significant businesses are information technology and
telecommunications. A large part of the production
is exported.
General information on Åland business
Åland has 27.000 inhabitants and over 2.200 registered companies, of which 30 per cent in trade and
tourism, 20 per cent in construction, 17 per cent in the finance sector and
about 10 per cent in manufacturing and transport respectively.
The most important business on Åland is shipping, making up almost one third of the
regional gross domestic product. The total GDP was almost 1,100 MEUR in 2006, equivalent
of 40,000 EUR per capita (compared to about 32,000 EUR per capita in Finland as a
whole).
Due to its location in between two large city areas and the frequent ferry
services, Åland is the perfect site for establishing businesses with focus on
the Scandinavian region, especially in ICT, consulting or services. Enquiries welcome.
Trading with Aland in brief
The autonomous Åland Islands are a member of the European Union but not part of
the tax union. This gives possibility for Tax Free shopping, but also causes
some special arrangements in trading matters. The Åland Islands shall be
considered as a third country in EU trade matters. Please see further
information about procedures needed here.
HOME
For further information on Åland, please go to:
General information www.aland.fi
The Government of Åland www.regeringen.ax
Statistics Åland www.asub.ax
Åland Business Register and phone book www.aland.com
Åland Chamber of Commerce www.chamber.ax
Åland Polytechnic www.ha.ax
Åland Post Office and tax free logistics center www.posten.ax
Åland Tourism Board Information Center www.visitaland.com