Finnish Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen Visits ALMACO in Quebec and Turku
ALMACO had the honor of hosting Finland’s Minister of Employment, Matias Marttinen, during two visits this month—first to our Quebec office together with the Finnish Ambassador to Canada and Team Finland representatives, and later to our Turku headquarters. Both meetings highlighted the importance of international cooperation, skills development, recruitment, and the future of the maritime industry.
Strengthening Cooperation in Quebec
On February 16th, ALMACO welcomed Minister Marttinen, the Finnish Ambassador to Canada Kaisa Korteniemi, Honorary Consul Benoît Bouchard, and a delegation from Team Finland led by Ulla Lainio of Business Finland to our Quebec office. The guests were received by ALMACO’s Chairman Vilhelm Roberts, President & CEO Björn Stenwall, Country Manager Canada David Huchet, and Talent Acquisition Lead Melanie Hernandez.
The discussions focused on the value of cooperation between Finland and Canada, including large-scale initiatives such as the recently signed icebreaker program between Le Groupe ALMACO and Chantier Davie. The delegation also examined how to attract skilled workforce to the marine sector and how deeper collaboration with educational institutions can support long-term talent development in both countries.
The visit provided an excellent opportunity to highlight ALMACO’s growing presence in Quebec and our commitment to supporting sustainable development in the region’s shipbuilding industry.
Follow-Up Meeting at ALMACO’s Turku Office
On Monday, 16th of March, Minister Marttinen continued his visit with a meeting at ALMACO’s Turku office. He met with President & CEO Björn Stenwall, Vice President, People & Organization Ines Stenius, and Vice President Marketing Hanna Långström to continue the dialogue initiated in Canada.
The conversation covered key topics shaping the maritime industry today, including global business opportunities, long-term recruitment needs, and the development of trainee programs that support young professionals entering the field. The discussions underscored the importance of close cooperation between industry, government, and educational institutions to secure future access to skilled talent.
Looking Ahead
ALMACO appreciates the time and interest shown by Minister Marttinen and the entire delegation during both visits. These meetings underline the shared commitment to developing the maritime industry and ensuring access to skilled talent in Finland and Canada.
We look forward to continuing this collaboration and supporting the growth of the marine sector across our global operations.
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