On Friday, 12 September 2025, EFIP members gathered in Lappeenranta for their annual Executive Committee Meeting. Hosted by the Port of Lappeenranta, the program opened with Marja Eskman, Project Manager, who introduced members to the operations of the port and other Lake Saimaa ports, with a particular focus on Dual-Use investments in the region. The Executive Committee Meeting was followed by an open session that highlighted the ongoing focus on how Finnish inland ports contribute to strengthening European resilience and the economy.
In the open session, Markus Rantavaara, Senior Manager of Operation Resources and Processes at UPM, shared insights on operations in Lake Saimaa, the challenges faced, perspectives on Dual-Use infrastructure, and the realities of operating near the Russian border. Followed by Niina Malm, Member of Parliament, alternate member of Defence Committee, the presentation focused defence planning in the Saimaa region, the role of ports and terminals, and lessons from Finland’s approach to infrastructure at the EU’s eastern border. (....)