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Helsinki- Region Uusimaa Regional Council City of Picture Bank / Mika Lappalainen

Helsinki-Uusimaa Region

The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is at the Uusimaa is the most urbanised area in heart of northern Europe. Located on the with the playing a major south coast of Finland it is home to around role in its life. Agricultural landscapes and 1.4 million people or more than a quarter of the rocky terrain along the coast are the the country’s total population. The annual most common views encountered outside population growth of Uusimaa is about the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Forests also 13,000 and the percentage of young adults cover vast areas of Uusimaa – as they do - those under the age of 40 - is particularly most of Finland. high. Half of all the immigrants in Finland The region as a whole is characterised by live in the region. a strong historical and social identity and, The Helsinki Metropolitan Area cities the rest of Finland, Uusimaa is bilingual of Helsinki, , and in the official languages of Finnish and form the core of Uusimaa. Swedish. Helsinki-Uusimaa Region • Employment - services 80.8 % • Capital region of Finland - secondary production 18.6 % - agriculture 0.6 % • 21 municipalities, the largest demographic and consumption concentration in Finland • Excellence in environmental conditions - 300 km of coastline • 1,4 M inhabitants, 26 % of total - two national parks population of Finland - growth 13 000 / year • Qualified human and scientific resources - foreign population 71 600, 50 % of foreign population • International airport - 570 000 inhabitants in the city of Helsinki • Four large international ports • Land area 6 370 km2, 2 % of Finalnds land area • Concentration of central functions: • Jobs 717 800 economic, administrative, leisure, culture - growth 3 900 / year • Privileged geo-strategic location • 20 % of national employment

• 35 % of GDP City of Helsinki Picture Bank / Juhani Seppovaara Culture blends with dynamic innovation

The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is a PISA, the Programme for International European leader in terms of creativity, Student Assessment in the OECD knowledge economy and sectoral member countries, has demonstrated that productivity performance. In terms of the Finnish education system is highly European competitiveness, the Helsinki- successful. There are a large number of Uusimaa Region ranks as one of the different schools offering high-standard super-regions in Europe, leading the way in education in Uusimaa. development based on knowledge creation Several major international companies and utilisation. It has been especially have their international headquarters in commended for its creativity due to the region, including the mobile phone investment in research and development, manufacturer Nokia. patents and the number of people employed Due to its geographical location, the in the ICT field in both the private and Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is a logistical public sectors. hub and one of Europe’s most important The region is also a major commercial gateways to and Asia. Helsinki- and cultural centre. Helsinki, the capital of Vantaa International Airport is used by Finland, is a modern university city with some 10 million travellers each year. Near high-tech offices ideal for the international the airport is the business park company. Helsinki is also home to many developed by the City of Vantaa academic and governmental institutions – a concept based on high-tech expertise and boasts a wealth of historical buildings. and innovation technology. Uusimaa Regional Council – developing the Region

The Uusimaa Regional Council in order to set common priorities for is one of 19 Regional Councils in regional development and to optimise Finland, representing the interests the use of regional strengths and of 21 member municipalities in the assets. Climate policy will require Helsinki-Uusimaa Region. It forms part consolidation of community structures, of local government and its democratic which will be influenced through land decision-making process. Its duties are use, housing and transport policies. principally governed by the Regional Improving maritime safety in the Baltic Development Act and the Land Use and Sea requires international cooperation. Building Act. The Uusimaa Regional Council is The Regional Council creates an active member in many European conditions for wellbeing, economic regional organisations and interacts with development and a safe and attractive the European Union via a permanent physical environment for its citizens. office in Brussels. Cooperation between The Council is also a strategic regions has led to many projects and planner, a land use planner and a also extensive partnership agreements. coordinator, as well as being an opinion The most important regions leader and consensus builder for the for cooperation lie within Europe, Helsinki-Uusimaa Region. especially in the Baltic Sea Region and The vision of regional development is Russia. The Council promotes the Baltic to make Uusimaa the most competitive, Sea Region as a leading knowledge hub safe and attractive metropolitan region in Europe. Asia, with its strong presence in northern Europe. in the current globalisation trend, is also To achieve these goals, the Council a feasible potential future partner for is mobilising actors and resources at the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region. the national, regional and local levels Eero Heinäluoma President of the Regional Council

Regional government is based on democratic local government: the decision-makers of the Regional Councils are elected officials of their respective member municipalities, representing local expertise and the will of the people. The will of the people of Uusimaa governs regional planning through regional land use plans and local development through municipal cooperation and project funding. Also, the Uusimaa Regional Council safeguards and promotes the interests of the region vis-à-vis the central government. Moreover, the Council’s international activities link Finland’s leading region to a Europe of regions.

Outi Mäkelä Chairman Regional of the Regional Board The Helsinki Metropolitan Development in the Area is Finland’s only Metropolitan Region internationally significant requires both an metropolitan area. We indomitable common are at the cutting edge will and international in innovation, education, relationships that function. research, development and Our method is to assemble interaction. The strength cooperation. The Regional of Helsinki-Uusimaa Land Use Plan and the benefits the country as a Regional Programme are whole. Favourable development in the region will help Finland the instruments we use in jointly deciding the region’s remain an attractive place to set up businesses and provide development objectives and methods. employment. Helsinki-Uusimaa is also rich with communities In future decades I see the people of Helsinki-Uusimaa that have diverse histories. The large urban communities of the Region, individually skilled and international in outlook, Helsinki Metropolitan Area are complemented beautifully by living in a region which provides both competitiveness the surrounding municipalities – each with their own strengths and security; a region which also holds out the promise including culture, the natural environment and traditional of success for experts from abroad. industries. Contact Information

Uusimaa Regional Council Aleksanterinkatu 48 A FIN-00100 Helsinki Tel: +358 9 4767 411 www.uudenmaanliitto.fi

Representation in Brussels: Helsinki EU Office Rue Belliard 15-17 B-1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 473 661 721 www.helsinki.fi/euoffice

ISBN 978-952-448-291-2 ISBN 978-952-448-292-9 (pdf)

Layout: Anni Levonen Pictures: Tuula Palaste-Eerola

Kyriiri Oy Helsinki 2009 1000 ex