Welcome to North Karelia!Dr. Pentti Hyttinen

Region Mayor

4th European Border Dialogues Forum

20 November 2013

North Karelia- the easternmost edge of the continental EU

Virmajärvi, IlomantsiNorth Karelia

North Karelia

166 000 inhabitants (less than 8 inhabitants / km²)

People moving in > moving out

13 municipalities

Regional capital: City of Joensuu (74 000 inh.)

21 600 km² , lakes 3 800 km²

- North to South 240 km

- East to West 150 km

Regional Council of North Karelia

Federation of the 13 municipalities

Overall responsibility of regional development activities

- Allocation of EU funds

- Land use planning

- Regional PR and lobbying

- International cooperation

Regional economy of North Karelia is based on export industries

6 000 companies, 33 000 employees, 5,7 billion € turnover

Promising prospects: Cooperation with Russia

Russia is increasingly important

for our regional economy

-Tax free sales 2012: 13,9 milj. € (+ 36 %)

-Border crossings at Niirala 2012: 1,5 milj. (+ 17 %)

-Retail shops are investing strongly

-Tourism industry, especially the growth of Koli

-Infrastuctural development

-Investments

Since 24 February 2000

Strategic and political forum

- to promote cross-border interaction

- to coordinate and follow-up the use of funding mechanisms

- to improve well-being on both sides of the border

Karelia ENPI CBC

EU programmes for CBC

1995-99:Interreg II A Karelia 36,4 M€

2000-06:Interreg III A Karelia 69,4 M€(Neighbourhood programme 2004-06)

2007-13: ENPI CBC Karelia 56,0 M€

Our contribution to the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth of EU

is based on forests, energy, minerals & tourism.

We count on knowledge based development We count on knowledge based development in forestry and wood sector in forestry and wood sector

European Forest Institute 1993-

Carelian Science Park 1990-

Forestry education at university level 1982-

Finnish Forest Research Institute 1981-

Forestry education at polytechnical level 1978-

Lignan from spruceinner branches

Energy

Construction

Fibre

Wood chemistry Health products

Tourism & recreation

Climate and Energy Programme of North Karelia Climate and Energy Programme of North Karelia

Locally – Renewably – EfficientlyLocally – Renewably – Efficiently

Fossil Oil Free Heating in 2020

Totally Fossil Oil Free Region in 2030

It means more woodchips, pellets, pyrolyse oil, solar energy, wind mills and other renewables.

Investing in bio-oil production Investing in bio-oil production

Fortum pyrolysis oil plant in Joensuu: production to bestarted in November 2013.

A model example of an investment (30 M€) needed on the way towards fossil oilfree region!

Mining sector is growing

Pampalo goldmine in Ilomantsi- Endomines Ltd- 2012: 250 000 tons of ore, gold 866,5 kg- 150 employees

Kylylahti mine in Polvijärvi- Altona Mining Ltd- copper, kobalt, nickel, zink, gold- 160 employeess

Soapstone companies in Juuka- Tulikivi ja Nunnauuni fireplaces and interior

designs

Tourism – success with smart specialisation

E.g.: Ageing people

•are wealthy

•are healthy and active

•have time

•spend on services

•are quality conscious

•have disabilities and

health problems

Future development requires investments

The utilisation of natural resources means a lot of construction, increasing transportation of products and materials as well as commuting of employees and construction.

Investments are needed to develop:

• roads, rail networks, water routes and airports

• IT and energy infrastructures

• technological research & innovation

Removing borders

Visa freedom

Every success on the way to the future!