19.10.2011

Kauko Jämsén to become the head of Turku’s office in St. Petersburg

The City of Turku and Kauko Jämsén, a former Consul General of Finland in St. Petersburg, have agreed that Jämsén will work as Turku’s representative in St. Petersburg, and as the leader of the Turku Centre in St. Petersburg. Jämsén begins his tasks immediately.

Jämsén's tasks include initiating the practical activities of the Turku Centre and participating in the preparation of the next Memorandum of Understanding between Turku and St. Petersburg. The year 2013 will mark the 60th anniversary of Turku and St. Petersburg becoming twin and friendship cities. To mark this anniversary a new Memorandum of Understanding will be written, which will define the areas of priority for future cooperation, eg: economic, educational and cultural cooperation.

The Turku Centre will also support the the City of Turku’s partners: the Regional Council of Southwest Finland; the University of Turku; and Åbo Akademi, in their activities in St. Petersburg and as agreed by the parties.

Kauko Jämsén has twenty years of experience of working in cooperation with Russia through Finland's Foreign Ministry. including a four-year term as Consul General in St. Petersburg as well as working for the Foreign Ministry in several positions connected to trade and mutual economic cooperation. According to Aleksi Randell, the Mayor of Turku, Jämsén has the expertise and credibility which will support the development objectives of Turku in its relations with St. Petersburg and send a clear message that Turku is serious about investing in this relationship.

The Turku Centre will operate from Suomi-talo (Finland House) in the heart of St. Petersburg, where phased activity has begun. Suomi-talo is also home to Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce, Finpro, Finnvera, Aalto University, the Finnish Institute in St. Petersburg, VR Group, Eurofacts Ltd and several other Finnish companies. Suomi-talo is managed by the St. Petersburg Foundation, of which the City of Turku is a founder member.

Renewing the concept of cooperation

Turku also aims to renew the concept of regional economic cooperation between Turku and St. Petersburg. The objective is to create, particularly for small and medium-sized companies operating in towns near Turku and St. Petersburg, a functional model for expanding business activities with their neighbouring country and to offer support in finding the necessary contacts.

Turku will cooperate with Eurofacts Oy in renewing the concept. Aleksi Randell says Eurofacts Ltd and its CEO Anders Blom have long experience of promoting business activities in the St. Petersburg region, which will be of benefit in renewing the concept.