Countryside for Vigorous Finland
Government Report to Parliament on Rural Policy
The Government submitted the Report on RuralPolicy to Parliament on 20 May 2009. The reportsets out national rural policy and acts as a guidefor
the comprehensive consideration of ruralareasin various policies. The aim of the report is to improve the quality of life and develop businessactivities
and the rural policy system.
Improvingthe quality of life will be pursued by developing the conditions for living in rural areas, the availability of services and rural accessibility. Developing businesses will be pursued by diversifyingand strengthening rural businesses, entrepreneurship and business services, by capitalising on and enhancing human capital and by creating innovation systems suitable to rural areas. Labour policy will feature in the efforts to respond to the labour shortage and special rural needs. The production of renewable energy, diverse use of forests, multi-sector farms and tourism are being seen to an increasing extent as a source of employment and livelihood.