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A total of 177 new businesses were founded in the Vaasa region in 2011 with the help of the Vaasa Region Enterprise Agency Startia. All-in-all, 429 new clients discussed their business idea and activities with Startia. These new businesses have created 238 new jobs in the region.

- Our counseling system was reorganized during the year: now prospective entrepreneurs can get an appointment with us in a week, says Tommi Virkama, Startia's manager.

In 2011, the Vaasa Region Development Company VASEKs business advisors had 3815 contacts with businesses. Startia is a part of VASEK and its 1275 documented client contacts are also included in the total figure. A growth of around 6 percent compared with the year before is seen in the total number of contacts.

Especially towards the end of the year, the gloomy prospects made businesses cautious about hiring more employees. There is, however, one field of business that does not seem to be affected by the recession period: the well-being industry.

- Companies in the field have more than enough work at the moment, and challenges in recruiting can already be seen, says business advisor Sari Saarikoski at VASEK. - A good number of new employees graduate from the local colleges, but they should be offered jobs so that we get them to stay in the region.  

During the year 2011, VASEKs business advisors were in contact with 804 existing businesses.