The Vaasa region is a good base for businesses that are active on the international markets. Here people have always had a longterm, broad perspective. The trading traditions of the old seafaring town are firmly rooted, and the city has long been a pioneer for the internationalization of Ostrobothnia. This requires the commitment to create and maintain international networks, versatile business contacts, a strong command of information technology, as well as a broad spectrum of culture, education and multilingualism. The common objective of the Vaasa region is to increase work-related migration.

Apart from the region’s export-based business life, our educational establishments, which have many foreign students, have also served to promote the international atmosphere. Among the many fine examples of practical global citizenship education, Vaasa offers an English playschool, language immersion education at day care centres and as part of the basic education, the IB programme which prepares students for the international matriculation exam, and university educational programmes in foreign languages.