On 23 January 2024, Finnish partners from “Eurocities”, an international organisation that brings together a large number of European cities, visited the Mission of Dnipropetrovsk Region in Brussels to strengthen the role of self-government and support Ukrainian cities affected by russian military aggression. Dnipropetrovsk region was represented at the online event by the Dnipropetrovsk Investment Agency (DIA) and the Association of Local Authorities of Dnipropetrovsk Region.

The Finnish side was represented at the online meeting by:

• Mervi Heinaro – Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Sports and Culture in the city of Espoo
• Annika Forsten – Acting Head of International Affairs EspooEsbo
• Anu Riila – Senior Advisor, EU policy, Helsinki City Executive Office
• Hannele Räikkönen – Director, Tampere Region EU Office

Representatives of these cities are partners of the cities of Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih through cooperation with Eurocities. In addition, the issue of establishing partnerships with Pavlohrad is being studied.

During the meeting, representatives of Finnish municipalities were presented with the benefits of cooperation with Dnipropetrovsk region, examples of implemented international rebuilding projects and transparent mechanisms of cooperation with the region.

Among the main topics covered during the online meeting, DIA experts focused the attention of foreign partners on rebuilding projects in the context of military aggression of russia against Ukraine. The agency has expanded its activities to include the reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine and the Dnipropetrovsk region in particular. To this end, the regional investment portal contains information on rebuilding projects in four categories, namely energy efficiency, medicine, water supply and residential construction.  

“We had a very constructive meeting with reps from Dnipropetrovsk region and the Ukr mission to the EU at “Eurocities”, together with representatives of the city of Espoo (Finland), on reconstruction needs and cooperation possibilities with the EU Delegation to the Tampere Region,” Hannele Räikkönen, Director of the EU Delegation to the Tampere Region said on Twitter.

As a result of the online meeting, it was agreed that the Finnish side would study the proposals submitted by DIA, develop possible mechanisms for cooperation and expand the partnership to the regional level.

To get more information about the projects, please follow the “rebuilding projects“ section.

Detailed information about foreign trade relations with Finland are available here.