Ten new Economic Development Centres started operating on 1 January 2026. They were established on the basis of the existing 15 centres for economic development, transport and the environment (ELY centres). Most of the tasks of the ELY Centres transferred to the Economic Development Centres. Environmental permit and supervision tasks were transferred to the newly established Finnish Supervisory Agency. The tasks of public passenger transport transferred to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.

The Economic Development Centres handle tasks related to business, employment, immigration, transport, agriculture, the environment, natural resources, financing and development. The Economic Development Centres have offices in all regions and employ nearly 2,000 people.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland is responsible for the general administrative steering of the Economic Development Centres. The activities of the Economic Development Centres are steered by different ministries in their respective sectors.