Finland is positioning itself as a leading exporter of mining technology, services and expertise as the country’s underexplored geological potential and world-class research infrastructure attract growing international attention, according to the newly appointed chief executive of Mining Finland.
Aleksi Salo, who took the role in November 2025, says the association’s 130-member cluster — spanning more than ten universities, research organisations and over 200 technology and service providers — offers a compelling proposition for international markets seeking sustainable and responsible mining solutions. “In this role, I believe I can have a positive impact on the growth of business and the Finnish mining sector as a whole,” Salo told Mining Technology.
Finland sits on the Fennoscandian Shield, which bears strong geological similarities to the Canadian Shield and the cratonic regions of Southern Africa and Western Australia. The shield hosts world-class deposits of iron, nickel, copper, platinum group metals and gold, yet the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt in the north remains largely unexplored and is considered to have significant gold potential. The country is consistently rated among the world’s most attractive mining jurisdictions for its combination of geological endowment, accessible data and innovation ecosystem.
Salo identified promoting Finnish water management technologies, mineral processing capabilities and original equipment manufacturers in international markets as key priorities. For small and medium-sized enterprises that cannot afford their own presence at major conferences and trade fairs, Mining Finland’s brand recognition provides an important market entry vehicle. The association works with Business Finland and the Team Finland network to organise delegations and market-specific webinars, connecting Finnish companies with potential partners and clients abroad.
On Finland’s domestic mining outlook, Salo expressed cautious optimism. Several gold and platinum projects are realistic candidates for production by 2030, alongside expansion projects at existing operations, though he flagged the regulatory environment — and court appeal processes in particular — as a potential source of delay. A recently introduced mineral tax has also created uncertainty for some larger operating mines.
Looking ahead, Salo said he hoped to see greater investment flowing to junior explorers and miners in Finland over the next four years, and called on the industry to communicate its economic significance and value chain contribution more effectively to the broader public
