KYMENLAAKSO - ST. PETERSBURG COOPERATION PROJECT

      The project started 1995 between the cities of Kotka and St. Petersburg. Today the Finnish partner is the Region of Kymenlaakso in South-East Finland. Kymenlaakso with its 200,000 inhabitants is the industrial and logistics centre in Finland with the two major ports of Kotka and Hamina and the railway hub of Kouvola.

      The purpose of the cooperation is to find and develop new projects which are of interest to St. Petersburg and Kymenlaakso, to assist SME´s in an alien business environment and to enhance contacts between St. Petersburg and Kymenlaakso within business, education, culture, tourism, sports etc. Special attention is paid to utilizing various EU programmes (Interreg, TACIS etc.) in the financing of the projects.

      The project works at a regional and corporate level to carry out the principles of cooperation between the neighbouring areas of Russia and Finland according to the agreement of 20 January 1992. The project welcomes international regions, organizations and companies to participate in the various projects within the cooperation.

      Working Groups have been nominated for the practical measures of the cooperation.

      Chairman of the Kymenlaakso Working Group:

      Mr. Tapio Välinoro, Managing Director, Regional Council of Kymenlaakso

      Chairman of the St. Petersburg Working Group:

      Mr. Valentin L. Makarov, Vice Chairman, External Affairs Committee, The Government of the City of St. Petersburg

      Some examples of the projects within the cooperation:

      - Development of a city area in St. Petersburg, including a Finnish-Russian Business Centre project
      - Collecting and recycling of waste oils from St. Petersburg
      - Industrial cooperation between Russian and Finnish companies
      - Various projects within logistics and infrastructure
      - Education projects between various schools and institutes
      - Assisting SME´s mainly through the Kotka - St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg - Kotka Societies

      We can offer you:

      - Our contacts with the public and private sector of St. Petersburg and Finland
      - Market studies and sales promotion events for your products and services
      - Russian and Finnish partners and clients for your business
      - Partnership in various EU projects and programmes

      For more information contact:

      Mr. Antero Sala, Project Manager
      Kymenlaakso - St. Petersburg Cooperation
      P.O.Box 198, FIN-48101 KOTKA FINLAND

      Tel: +358 5 2184 921
      GSM: +358 40 5293 855
      Fax: +358 5 213 007
      E-mail: antero.sala@kotka.fi