The maritime industry company NIT received an award for Southwest Finland’s Enterprise of the Year 2014 at a gala dinner held today by the regional entrepreneurs’ organization Varsinais-Suomen Yrittäjät.
The entrepreneurs’ organization particularly praised the growth NIT has achieved in challenging export markets. NIT’s co-owners, CEO Jari Suominen (right) and director Kenneth Luoma (left) reckon that by the year end the company’s annual sales will have grown by 140% in 2014 to 17 million euros. The estimate for 2015 is over 20 million euros.
“This award is a welcome honor for our company and our work,” said Suominen.
“I especially want to congratulate the members of our innovative team who have stayed with us through difficult times.”
According to Suominen, NIT was among the many companies forced to find new customers outside their Finnish home base after the financial crisis of 2008 severely hit the cruise ship building business in Turku. The business never collapsed, however, and this year Turku’s shipyard has made a fresh start under a new German main owner, Meyer Werft.
“Turku is where our business was born,” Suominen said. “And now we have a good opportunity to make a great comeback together. There will always be a need for big ships, and with good co-operation we can secure a successful future for our industry here, providing work for decades to come.”