Structural Arrangements by the Department of Trade and Industry Support the Vitality of Kouvola Region

Kouvola became the largest city in south-eastern Finland as a result of six municipalities merging into one, and is now clarifying and reinforcing its business services by structural arrangements in accordance with the united decision taken by Kouvola City Council in June.

These structural arrangements have now started and they are to be completed in two phases. The city’s three development companies are joined together into one by the end of January 2009. This unit will now serve entrepreneurs and businesses, offering better services more cost efficiently. In the future our customers can get all services needed from one place, whether it’s rental of premises or other establishment services.

This joint service unit consists of the following services; business, tourism, premise and development services, as well as the service concept Innorail, which specializes in railway logistics. According to the economic development strategy of the City of Kouvola, development services operate in four key business areas: forest, energy and environment, digital content services, tourism and leisure, and logistics.

In the second phase of these structural arrangements, the ownership arrangements of the companies, their subsidiaries, and associated companies are carried out by the end of 2010, in accordance with the decision of Kouvola City Council. The parent company of this simple corporation structure is going to be Kouvola Innovation Ltd. The ownership of business premises is centralized to the new company Kouvolan Yritystilat Oy (former Kuusankosken Kehitys Oy).

These structural arrangements are a part of internal arrangements of the city’s Department of Trade and Industry, and don’t acquire any actions on customer’s behalf.

Kouvola economic development strategy is being completed. More on the economic development strategy and the priorities, goals and actions of Kinno's operations will be announced later on.

Kouvola, October 2009
Merja Vainio, CEO