KarLink – Karelian Business Link
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

A Border Service Centre was created in the earlier ‘Karelia Gateway’ project where the activities took place in close proximity with companies and were based on their requirements. In this project, the intention was to concentrate on developing the general international business expertise of companies, special expertise with respect to business across borders, developing services and products to meet Russian requirements and the necessity of key individuals shared by several companies.

Main activities

• Organising of support services directed to companies: various types of assessments, requests for quotations, quotations, interpretations, translations, contact making and business trip arrangements, legal assistance, business planning, trade fair arrangements, communications regarding changes at Customs, and advice in subcontracting and becoming established. • Completion of a total of sixteen extensive market research reports and six limited studies for companies, • Formation of four general development plans: ’Serving Russia Transport and Business Across Borders by Developing the Karelia Logistics Centre’, ’Serving Russia Transport and Business Across Borders by Developing the Karelia Logistics Centre’ follow-up project, ’Development Plan for the Niirala Region’ and ’Niirala Operational Environment’. • Arranging of five separate training events and seminars related to trading and subcontracting possibilities in Russia and to establishing companies in Finland.

Achievements

A total of 36 companies participated in the project. The support services directed to companies concerned various types of assessments, requests for quotations, quotations, interpretations, translations, contact making and business trip arrangements, legal assistance, business planning, trade fair arrangements, communications regarding changes at Customs, and advice in subcontracting and becoming established. A total of sixteen extensive market research reports and six limited studies were completed for companies. The companies received specific analysis regarding the current market conditions of their industry products in the St. Petersburg and Leningrad areas. The market studies also included action recommendations and contact information for interested partners for possible future follow-up activities. In addition, four general development plans were formulated: ’Serving Russia Transport and Business Across Borders by Developing the Karelia Logistics Centre’, ’Serving Russia Transport and Business Across Borders by Developing the Karelia Logistics Centre’ follow-up project, ’Development Plan for the Niirala Region’ and ’Niirala Operational Environment’. The Central Karelian municipalities received external, unbiased information regarding the development of the Niirala area, which is one of the most significant projects in the region. Four companies participated in the Managing Myself process, which improved the capabilities of company representatives to engage in trade with Russia and meet Russian customers/business partners. As a result of the long-term operational approach of KETI Oy, the awareness of business services related to Russia was spread outside Central Karelia and inquiries were received even from beyond the region. Two functional chains between companies were created as a joint eff ort by companies: an air conditioning industry chain and a wood-refining chain. Both included four participating companies. Well-functioning cooperation patterns between Finns and Russians were formed particularly in the assembly industry as well as in the administrative offices of the municipalities of Central Karelia and the Sortavala region.