Developing Training and Company Cooperation in the Environment and Construction Industry in the Republic of Karelia and Other Areas of Northwest Russia
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The goal of the project was to develop educational and company cooperation in the environment and construction sector of Finland and Northwest Russia, to increase expertise and market knowledge and therefore to promote business opportunities across the border.

Main activities

• Planning and carrying out trade fair visits to Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Petrozavodsk, • Planning and organizing training events and seminars in Finland together with Finnish and Russian companies and educational institutions, • Organisation of teacher exchange between Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Petrozavodsk State University and the Petrozavodsk Construction Teknikum, • Basic research on educational cooperation, elaboration of a cooperation agreement • Arrangement of two work placement periods in companies in the Oulu region for employees of a construction company in Arkhangelsk, • Producing a study of the current repair and renovation business environment in Northwest Russia and an assessment of the construction markets in the nearby areas.

Achievements

Finnish companies’ knowledge related to Russia was increased through mutual visits, events and training. In addition, the project activities resulted in Russians gaining more extensive knowledge of Finnish expertise, quality and materials during the project. Together with companies, trade fair visits were planned and carried out to Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Petrozavodsk. A small-scale work demonstration was also organised in connection with the Arkhangelsk trade fair. Training events and seminars were planned and organised in Finland together with Finnish and Russian companies and educational institutions. The Russian partners participated in training events and trade fairs in Finland. Teacher exchanges were carried out between Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Petrozavodsk State University and the Petrozavodsk Construction Teknikum. Basic research of the educational cooperation was completed and a foundation created for working together in the future (a cooperation agreement). Two work placement periods in companies in the Oulu region in the construction industry were arranged for employees of a construction company in Arkhangelsk. The project also produced a study of the current repair and renovation business environment in Northwest Russia and an assessment of the construction markets in the nearby areas. In the Murmansk and Archangelsk regions, a potential increase in demand for products and services in the construction industry was discovered. Based on the research, a few products/services that were seen as having the opportunity to become established in the regional market were proposed. These products and services were project management expertise, design expertise, additional exterior heat insulation and new façade materials, roofing materials, and engineering products for buildings. Significant opportunities were discovered for companies in the construction industry in Finland and Oulu through offering the aforementioned products and service packages. The research concluded that if several companies in the Oulu region were interested in the markets in question, one possible action could be to create an export company specialising in the construction industry as a joint venture. The project was implemented on a smaller scale than planned. This was primarily due to a lack of participation by companies in the project.