1

2030 / INSPIRING

KOUVOLAON A GROWTH TRACK

URBAN CITY STRATEGY 2019–2030

BOLD

Lannistava Uskaltava Innostava

2

KOUVOLA SECURES WELFAREKouvola secures the economic, intellectual and social welfare of the inhabitants, businesses and communities as well as the preconditions of strengthening community spirit.

MIS

SIO

N

– possibilities for new ideas and new growth.

PLATFORM FOR GROWTH

KOUVOLA | 2030

VIS

ION

GROWTH MUST HAVE SPEARHEADS, BUT WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE!

Building on the strengths of Kouvola, the selected spearheads of growth are: growth of children, growth of young people and growth of businesses.

Urban city strategy 2019–2030

2

3

– possibilities for new ideas and new growth.

PLATFORM FOR GROWTH

GROWTH OF CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES

SPEARH

EAD

S OF G

ROW

TH

GROWTH IN VITALITY, WELFARE AND STATUS

STRATEG

Y PROG

RAM

MES

GROWTH INSTATUS

GROWTH INVITALITY

GROWTH INWELFARE

KEY G

ROW

TH FA

CTOR

INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INHABITANTS

201784 500INHABITANTS

PRESENT SITUATION

87 000INHABITANTS

2023INTERMEDIATE TARGET

203090 000INHABITANTS

TARGET

BEST

ACT

IVE EVERYDAY LIFEGRO

W

TH OF CHILDRENFOCUS

FAMILY LIFE GR

OW

TH O

F YOUNG PEOPLE

CITY

THAT CREATES NEWFOCUS

EDU-CATION G

ROW

TH OF BUSINESSES

BEST

IN TRANSPORT

FOCUS LOGIS-

TICS

4

Bold renewal We grasp new opportunities boldly. In this way, Kouvola can remain interesting, dynamic and vital. This manifests itself as follows: boldly renewing procedures and services, utilisation of customer feedback and development ideas.

Target orientation and efficiencyWe have a shared view of the targets, quick decision-making, and responsible and empowering leadership. This manifests itself as follows: smooth progress of matters, strengthening economy and good reputation.

We do not make compromises with values

Values of Kouvola

5

Reliability and security Kouvola is a reliable and secure partner and service platform. Our efforts are transparent and predictable. We make decisions consistently and coherently. This manifests itself as follows: people feel secure while living and moving in Kouvola, our services are trusted.

Responsible co-operation We make Kouvola a community where people can trust each other. This manifests itself as follows: mutual respect, open flow of information, smoothness of doing things, service spirit and caring for the environment.

For the benefit of inhabitantsWe work for the benefit of each other. We make Kouvola a place where everyone is comfortable and feels well. This manifests itself as follows: active listening to each other, fair treatment and continuous development of our own efforts.

6

Lannistava Uskaltava InnostavaWhen allocating input in children and when implementing an easy everyday life for families, these issues have a comprehensive impact on the lives of inhabitants – the target is the best active everyday life in Finland. When the services take families and children into special consideration, everyday life becomes easy. Kouvola is also known for its family events. Each child has at least one hobby. Kouvola is for children’s physical activity. When there is focus on the growth of children, the best active everyday life is produced for all. Kouvola – best in the physical activity of children!

Spearheads of strategy

BEST

ACT

IVE EVERYDAY LIFEGRO

WTH

OF CHILDRENFOCUS FAMILY

LIFE

7

• Inspiring everyday life for families with children – high-quality early childhood education and primary school that support the skills of the future.

• Easy everyday life – services that pay special attention to the child and family regionally and in terms of time.

• Children’s physical activity – well- functioning exercise and natural environments 24/7.

• Active events in everyday life with events for the whole family – each child has at least one hobby.

7

8

Lannistava Uskaltava InnostavaKouvola is a shared learning environment for our young people. The whole city contributes to upbringing and education. Focus on young people together with versatile training and education options have an impact on everyone – the target is a city creating new things. A university for co-operation between the East and West – Scandinavia and Russia – is an example of creativity and of the enhanced appeal of Kouvola. The health and success of young people even up to the top level of competition sports is ensured by the fact that Kouvola is also a sporting town for young people. Kouvola – beloved by students!

Spearheads of strategy

GRO

WTH

OF YOUNG PEO

PLE

CITY

THAT CREATES N

EWFOCUS EDU-

CATION

9

• The whole city contributes to upbringing and education – co-operation between businesses and educational establishments, solid stakeholder models that support rooting and devotion.

• Skills of the future – training and education that support passion and talent – options and alternatives available in comprehensive school and upper secondary school.

• University of encounters – research and education from the East and West meet each other –education platform for foundational and applied sciences; training and education in-between vocational and university levels.

• Student campus – vibrant hub of versatile business, studies, student housing and leisure.

• Sporting city for young people – inspiring exercise and natural environments 24/7.

9

10

Lannistava Uskaltava InnostavaNew things can be achieved by bringing together different perspectives. The inhabitants and businesses come up with initiatives to provide services, and the city enables business which cares for the people and develops the environment. New innovations and business concepts increase revenue in the area. The platform for growth is the best in Finland – businesses are served well and swiftly. Focus on logistics – the target is to be the best in Finland in transport. Kouvola is a logistics hub in Northern Europe as part of the Northern Growth Zone. Passenger traffic is smart, novel and flexible – the most advanced of its kind in Finland for easy everyday life. Kouvola – best in transport!

Spearheads of strategy

GRO

WTH

OF BUSINESSES

BEST

IN TRANSPORT

FOCUS LOGIS-

TICS

1111

• Logistics hub – logistics hub in Northern Europe as part of the Northern Growth Zone.

• Best in transport – new, intelligent and versatile modes of transport such as free internal public transport and sponsored commuting for inhabi-tants who use public transport.

• Inspiring business infrastructure – service plat-form that increases revenue and creates demand: the best connections and networks are guaranteed for existing and new businesses – the best chan-nels and unobstructed operating environment.

• New platforms for growth of businesses – new business concepts, new forms of work, social entre-preneurship, pop-ups and time economy.

• City as a service platform – the city, businesses and communities produce seamless services for the needs of the inhabitant’s life path.

• One company per day – one company, plot or apartment in one day.

• Taxes below average – municipal tax and real estate tax rates below the average of reference cities.

• Proficient workforce – vocational training that produces professional skills.

12

Not

eno

ugh

subs

titut

ing

indu

strie

s w

ere

esta

blish

ed in

Kou

vola

af

ter

the

stru

ctur

al c

hang

e th

at

took

pla

ce in

the

woo

d-pr

oces

sing

indu

stry

in F

inla

nd. T

he n

umbe

r of

co

mpa

nies

and

jobs

dec

reas

ed a

nd

unem

ploy

men

t inc

reas

ed. A

ccor

ding

to

fore

cast

dat

a of

that

tim

e, th

ere

wer

e po

sitiv

e de

velo

pmen

ts in

m

any

field

s. Th

e in

put b

y Ko

uvol

a in

spe

arhe

ad p

roje

cts

that

wer

e to

enh

ance

vita

lity

gave

rea

son

to

belie

ve in

a b

right

er f

utur

e.

Kou

vola

has

suc

ceed

ed in

gai

ning

ne

w b

usin

esse

s in

the

area

, es

peci

ally

in lo

gist

ics

and

serv

ices

. Lo

cal f

ood

and

loca

l pro

duce

rs p

lay

a sig

nific

ant r

ole.

The

re a

re m

ore

and

mor

e jo

bs, w

hich

will

be

re

flect

ed in

con

stru

ctio

n an

d co

mm

erce

vol

umes

. The

cen

tral

loca

tion

and

good

tran

spor

t se

rvic

es h

ave

incr

ease

d

com

mut

ing.

20

17

/ C

OU

RAG

EOU

S2

02

3 /

BO

LD2

03

0 /

IN

SPIR

ING

Kou

vola

will

be

a ke

y gr

owth

co

rrid

or in

Fin

land

and

an

inte

rnat

iona

lly s

igni

fican

t log

istic

s pl

ayer

. The

num

bers

of

busin

esse

s an

d jo

bs c

ontin

ue to

gro

w. T

he

Trav

el C

entr

e ha

s co

nsol

idat

ed

the

incr

ease

in b

oth

dom

estic

an

d in

tern

atio

nal t

raffi

c in

the

Kouv

ola

area

. The

fre

ight

vol

umes

ha

ve g

row

n ra

pidl

y, e

spec

ially

in

rai

l tra

ffic

than

ks to

the

Asia

n co

nnec

tion.

Stra

tegy

pro

gram

mes

Gro

wth

in v

italit

y

Gro

wth

in w

elfa

re

Kouv

ola

cond

ucts

ext

ensiv

e de

velo

pmen

t wor

k, w

hich

has

bee

n ar

rang

ed in

to s

trate

gy p

rogr

amm

es: g

row

th in

vita

lity,

gro

wth

in

wel

fare

and

gro

wth

in th

e st

atus

of

Kouv

ola.

The

City

Cou

ncil

uses

the

stra

tegy

pro

gram

mes

to g

uide

an

d sc

hedu

le th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

the

urba

n co

mm

unity

for

th

e ye

ars

2019

to 2

030.

The

spe

arhe

ads

of g

row

th a

re

impl

emen

ted

on th

e pl

atfo

rm o

f th

e st

rate

gy p

rogr

amm

es.

13

Kou

vola

lost

inha

bita

nts

and

jobs

, whi

ch m

anife

sted

as

a di

sadv

anta

geou

s de

mog

raph

ic

stru

ctur

e. T

his

also

refl

ecte

d in

the

wel

fare

of

the

inha

bita

nts.

Focu

s on

trai

ning

and

edu

catio

n to

geth

er

with

incr

easin

g em

ploy

men

t wer

e to

enh

ance

the

wel

fare

of

fam

ilies

. Ko

uvol

a of

fere

d go

od o

ppor

tuni

ties

for

spor

ts a

nd c

ultu

re.

The

stat

us o

f K

ouvo

la b

oth

natio

nally

and

inte

rnat

iona

lly

suff

ered

as

a re

sult

of th

e re

cess

ion.

H

owev

er, t

he s

trong

sta

tus

of th

e pa

st y

ears

as

a ci

ty o

f th

e pa

per

indu

stry

and

adm

inist

ratio

n liv

ed o

n.

Posit

ive

chan

ges

in th

e st

atus

wer

e ex

pect

ed to

take

pla

ce o

ver

a lo

ng

time

span

, and

Kou

vola

was

rea

dy to

w

ork

on it

. Kou

vola

was

a s

ecur

e an

d va

ried

plac

e of

res

iden

ce a

lread

y th

en.

Mor

e an

d m

ore

peop

le w

ho a

re

in a

wor

king

age

, and

fam

ilies

w

ith c

hild

ren

mov

e to

Kou

vola

. H

igh-

qual

ity a

nd w

ell-f

unct

ioni

ng

serv

ices

fac

ilita

te th

e ev

eryd

ay li

fe

of f

amili

es w

ith c

hild

ren.

The

re is

m

ore

com

mun

ity s

pirit

and

vol

unta

ry

wor

k, a

nd th

e in

habi

tant

s’ w

elfa

re

has

incr

ease

d. T

he ro

le o

f sp

orts

and

cu

lture

is o

n th

e in

crea

se.

Kou

vola

is k

now

n as

a g

ood

resid

entia

l env

ironm

ent a

nd a

s a

good

bas

e fo

r co

mpa

nies

. Kou

vola

as

a to

urist

des

tinat

ion,

esp

ecia

lly

in n

atur

e to

urism

, attr

acts

tour

ists

both

nat

iona

lly a

nd in

tern

atio

nally

. Se

curit

y, a

cces

sibili

ty a

nd c

lose

pr

oxim

ity to

the

natu

ral e

nviro

nmen

t ar

e hi

ghlig

hted

.

Kou

vola

will

be

the

tent

h bi

gges

t ci

ty in

Fin

land

and

one

of

the

fast

est

grow

ing

area

s. Sa

tisfie

d in

habi

tant

s an

d to

urist

s en

joy

the

unhu

rrie

d at

mos

pher

e, w

ell-f

unct

ioni

ng s

ervi

ces

plus

num

erou

s an

d va

ried

leisu

re

activ

ities

off

ered

by

Kouv

ola.

Ko

uvol

a w

ill b

e a

favo

urite

am

ong

stud

ents.

Peop

le w

ant t

o m

ove

to K

ouvo

la

to li

ve, r

un a

bus

ines

s an

d w

ork

ther

e. F

or le

isure

act

iviti

es, K

ouvo

la

will

be

a to

p de

stin

atio

n fo

r to

urist

s an

d ev

ent g

uest

s. Ko

uvol

a w

ill b

e th

e sa

fest

city

in F

inla

nd. K

ouvo

la

will

be

inte

rnat

iona

lly r

enow

ned

as

an

envi

ronm

enta

lly-f

riend

ly

plac

e cl

ose

to th

e na

tura

l en

viro

nmen

t.

Gro

wth

in s

tatu

s

14

GROWTH IN VITALITY People in Kouvola can enjoy spacious housing. The city is an uncongested and secure network of the city centre and regional centres. Individual residen-tial areas and regional centres are of interest to new inhabitants, people returning to Kouvola and telecommuters. Commuting is part of a natural and easy everyday life. Students like it in the centre, and you can often hear a happy laughter in the centre. Business development is built around transport, small entre-preneurship, development-oriented workforce and agile nature tourism. Kouvola works closely with the wood-processing industry and other export businesses. In primary production, Kouvola is the most productive municipality in Finland!

Strategy programmes

1515

• Networked city – a network that creates new, consisting of the city centre and four regional centres.

• Villages along the city – development of rural infrastructure and plot exchange.

• Individual areas – healthy housing, construction and leisure home solutions that focus on the inhabitants and are based on their choices.

• Modifiable multi-service facilities – flexibly available to everyone 24/7.

PRIORITIES IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT• Bioeconomy and circular economy – product

development, wood construction and other new modes of working based on circular economy, renewable energies, agriculture and forestry.

• Easily to the natural environment – magnificent surrounding areas – diverse nature and tourism entrepreneurship.

• Support for exports – solid co-operation with the wood-processing industry and other exporting businesses.

• Encouragement of small entrepreneurship – spurring of microenterprises (1 to 9 employees) and small businesses (10 to 49 employees).

• Workforce with the right attitude – internationally open workforce eager to develop.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

16 20

17

/ C

OU

RAG

EOU

S

12/2

5BU

SIN

ESS

AT

MO

SPHE

RE /

RA

NKI

NG

5 30

0 M

€RE

VEN

UE O

FBU

SIN

ESSE

S

38 4

00

JOBS

50 %

PR

OPO

RTIO

N O

F PU

CHAS

ES

MAD

E LO

CALL

Y BY

THE

CIT

Y

5 55

0 BU

SIN

ESSE

S

150

/ ye

ar

HO

USI

NG

UN

ITS

C

OM

PLET

ED

20

23

/ B

OLD

5/25

BUSI

NES

S AT

-M

OSP

HERE

/

RAN

KIN

G

6 30

0 M

€RE

VEN

UE O

F BU

SIN

ESSE

S

45 7

00

JOBS

60 %

PR

OPO

RTIO

N O

F PU

RCH

ASE

S M

AD

E LO

CA

LLY

BY T

HE

CIT

Y

6 60

0 BU

SIN

ESSE

S

250

/ ye

ar

HO

USI

NG

UN

ITS

CO

MPL

ETED

20

30

/ I

NSP

IRIN

G

24/2

5BU

SIN

ESS

AT

MO

SPHE

RE /

RA

NKI

NG

4 30

0 M

€RE

VEN

UE O

FBU

SIN

ESSE

S

31 1

00

JOBS

39,3

%

PRO

PORT

ION

OF

PURC

HASE

S M

ADE

LOCA

LLY

BY T

HE C

ITY

4 50

0 BU

SIN

ESSE

S

72 /

yea

r H

OU

SIN

G U

NIT

S

CO

MPL

ETED

PR

ESEN

T SI

TUA

TIO

NIN

TER

MED

IATE

TA

RG

ETTA

RG

ET

Gro

wth

fact

ors

of v

italit

y

17

50 %

PR

OPO

RTIO

N O

F PU

CHAS

ES

MAD

E LO

CALL

Y BY

THE

CIT

Y

3 00

0 00

0 t

FREI

GHT

HAN

DLED

IN T

ERM

INAL

S

50 0

00 te

uCO

NTA

INER

S

9 %

UNEM

PLO

YMEN

T68

%

EMPL

OYM

ENT

6 50

0C

OM

MU

TERS

3 %

PR

IMAR

Y

PRO

DUCT

ION

22 %

PR

OCE

SSIN

G

75 %

SE

RVIC

ES

Jobs

60 %

PR

OPO

RTIO

N O

F PU

RCH

ASE

S M

AD

E LO

CA

LLY

BY T

HE

CIT

Y

5 00

0 00

0 t

FREI

GHT

HAN

DLED

IN T

ERM

INAL

S

150

000

teu

CON

TAIN

ERS

2,5

%

PRIM

ARY

PR

ODU

CTIO

N

22,5

%

PRO

CESS

ING

75 %

SE

RVIC

ES

Jobs

7 %

UNEM

PLO

YMEN

T70

%

EMPL

OYM

ENT

8 00

0C

OM

MU

TERS

2 00

0 00

0 t

FREI

GHT

HAN

DLED

IN T

ERM

INAL

S

4 00

0 te

uCO

NTA

INER

S

3,5

%

PRIM

ARY

PR

ODU

CTIO

N

21,9

%

PRO

CESS

ING

73,4

%

SERV

ICES

Jobs

14,7

%

UNEM

PLO

YMEN

T 64

,1 %

EMPL

OYM

ENT

4 90

0CO

MM

UTER

S

18

GROWTH OF WELFAREKouvola stands out with a healthy lifestyle. The services are available effortlessly. They are targeted at the right time to the greatest need and in an effective manner. The attitude of service providers inspires to an active upkeep of your own welfare and the welfare of your fellow people. Living in Kouvola is a value choice for physical activity, time management, welfare and health.

A home town that respects the natural environment!

Strategy programmes

1919

• Best local culture – rich in local arts, culture and knowledge capital.

• Easy access to services – customer-oriented, multi-channel and easily attainable services that support the customer’s freedom of choice; the best digital services.

• Inspiring service attitude – the attitude of service providers makes the inhabitants become active in their own welfare and in the welfare of their fellow people.

• Proactive services – allocating services in a timely fashion to where the greatest effectiveness is achieved.

CLEAN GROWTH• Diverse natural environments – well-kept

nature and valuable attractions.• Resource efficiency – towards green

economy – efficient use and reuse of materials and energy, such as air, water, ground and soil.

• Intact structure of urban and densely- populated areas – based on priority zones.

• Energy efficiency in construction – healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient buildings.

• Carbon neutral Kouvola 2040 – solutions that are sustainable in terms of climate.

PROMOTION OF HEALTH

20

84 5

00IN

HABI

TAN

TS

8 00

0 Fa

mili

es w

ith c

hild

ren

25,6

%+

65

year

s

17,2

%0–

17 y

ears

57,2

%18

–64

yea

rs

8 50

0Fa

mili

es w

ith c

hild

ren

87 0

00IN

HABI

TAN

TS

27 %

+ 6

5 ye

ars

17 %

0–17

yea

rs

56 %

18–6

4 ye

ars

90 0

00IN

HABI

TAN

TS

9 00

0Fa

mili

es w

ith c

hild

ren

16 %

0–17

yea

rs

55 %

18–6

4 ye

ars

29 %

+ 6

5 ye

ars

Gro

wth

fact

ors

of w

elfa

re

20

17

/ C

OU

RAG

EOU

S2

02

3 /

BO

LD2

03

0 /

IN

SPIR

ING

PR

ESEN

T SI

TUA

TIO

NIN

TER

MED

IATE

TA

RG

ETTA

RG

ET

21

7 20

0ST

UDEN

TS

38,6

%

EXPE

RIEN

CED

HEA

LTH

Med

ium

or p

oor

17,7

%TH

OSE

NO

T TA

KIN

G

EXER

CIS

E

9,7

%O

UTSI

DEED

UCAT

ION

17–2

4 ye

ars

1 23

4 00

0PA

SSEN

GER

S IN

PUB

LIC T

RAN

SPO

RT

5,6

t CO

2 -eq

uiv.

/cap

itaG

REEN

HOUS

E G

AS

EMIS

SIO

NS

32 %

EX

PERI

ENCE

D H

EALT

HM

ediu

m o

r poo

r

8 00

0ST

UD

ENTS

17–2

4 ye

ars

7 %

O

UTS

IDE

ED

UC

ATIO

N

15 %

THO

SE N

OT

TAKI

NG

EX

ERC

ISE

4 t

CO2-

equi

v./c

apita

G

REEN

HOUS

E G

AS

EMIS

SIO

NS

1 41

9 00

0PA

SSEN

GER

S IN

PU

BLIC

TRA

NSP

ORT

27 %

EX

PERI

ENCE

D H

EALT

HM

ediu

m o

r poo

r 12

%TH

OSE

NO

T TA

KIN

G

EXER

CIS

E

5 %

OU

TSID

E

EDU

CAT

ION

17–2

4 ye

ars

1 60

4 00

0PA

SSEN

GER

S IN

PU

BLIC

TRA

NSP

ORT

2 t

CO2 -

equi

v./c

apita

G

REEN

HOUS

E G

AS

EMIS

SIO

NS

10 0

00ST

UD

ENTS

22

GROWTH IN STATUSKouvola is the safest place in Europe. The inhabi-tants are the resource of Kouvola. Urban activism and cultural efforts thrive. The attitude towards differences is open – different views give rise to new kinds of insights. Nature tourism is highly valued. New and diverse tourism products have emerged. The permitting urban platform enables the implementation of new service ideas. Kouvola is visited by many foreign tourists – tales of unforgettable experiences spread in Central Europe and Asia in particular. Kouvola – positive sensation!

Lannistava Uskaltava Innostava

Strategy programmes

23

IDENTITY• The safest city in Europe – everyday

security created together.• Bold experiments – experimental

approaches such as robot buses.• Kouvola to the world map –

internationally understandable, discoverable and inspiring.

INVOLVEMENT • Inhabitants as a resource – senior

citizens are an important factor, all age groups are active partners, immigrants involved.

• Kouvola of inhabitants – good community spirit, direct forms of influence, attractive volunteer efforts and urban activism.

• Seeds for new ideas – platform for the encounter of different perspectives and for innovation and creation of new growth.

Lannistava Uskaltava Innostava

24

89,2

MIL

LIO

N €

USE

OF

MO

NEY

BY

TO

URIS

TS

500

pers

on-w

orky

ears

DI

RECT

EM

PLO

YMEN

T FR

OM

TO

URIS

M

2,39

MIL

LIO

N €

DIRE

CT W

ITHH

OLD

ING

TAX

IN

COM

E FR

OM

TO

URIS

M

960

MIL

LIO

N €

VOLU

ME

OF

CO

MM

ERC

E A

ND

SER

VIC

ES

109

MIL

LIO

N €

USE

OF

MO

NEY

BY

TO

URIS

TS

590

pers

on-w

orky

ears

DI

RECT

EM

PLO

YMEN

T FR

OM

TO

URIS

M

2,8

MIL

LIO

N €

DIRE

CT W

ITHH

OLD

ING

TAX

IN

COM

E FR

OM

TO

URIS

M

1000

MIL

LIO

N €

VOLU

ME

OF

CO

MM

ERC

E A

ND

SER

VIC

ES

167

MIL

LIO

N €

USE

OF

MO

NEY

BY

TO

URIS

TS

965

pers

on-w

orky

ears

DI

RECT

EM

PLO

YMEN

T FR

OM

TO

URIS

M

4,6

MIL

LIO

N €

DIRE

CT W

ITHH

OLD

ING

TAX

IN

COM

E FR

OM

TO

URIS

M

1100

MIL

LIO

N €

VOLU

ME

OF

CO

MM

ERC

E A

ND

SER

VIC

ES

Gro

wth

in s

tatu

s

20

17

/ C

OU

RAG

EOU

S2

02

3 /

BO

LD2

03

0 /

IN

SPIR

ING

PR

ESEN

T SI

TUA

TIO

NIN

TER

MED

IATE

TA

RG

ETTA

RG

ET

25

57,6

%TU

RNO

UT

PERC

ENTA

GE

IN V

OTE

S

8/8

INHA

BITA

NT

SATI

SFAC

TIO

N/

RAN

KIN

G

2,9

%FO

REIG

NER

S

30/3

7

2/10

WIL

LIN

GN

ESS

TO M

OV

E/RA

NKI

NG

SEC

URI

TY/R

AN

KIN

G

134

500

REG

ISTE

RED

OVE

RNIG

HT

STAY

ES

13 %

IN

TERN

ATIO

NAL

65 %

TURN

OU

T PE

RCEN

TAG

E IN

VO

TES

4/8

INHA

BITA

NT

SATI

SFAC

TIO

N/

RAN

KIN

G

4 %

FORE

IGN

ERS

20/3

7

1/10

WIL

LIN

GN

ESS

TO M

OV

E/RA

NKI

NG

SEC

URI

TY/R

AN

KIN

G

177

000

REG

ISTE

RED

OVE

RNIG

HT

STAY

ES

15 %

IN

TERN

ATIO

NAL

70 %

TURN

OU

T PE

RCEN

TAG

E IN

VO

TES

1/8

INHA

BITA

NT

SATI

SFAC

TIO

N/

RAN

KIN

G

5 %

FORE

IGN

ERS

8/37

1/10

WIL

LIN

GN

ESS

TO M

OV

E/RA

NKI

NG

SEC

URI

TY/R

AN

KIN

G

270

000

REG

ISTE

RED

OVE

RNIG

HT

STAY

ES

20 %

IN

TERN

ATIO

NAL

26

NEW PROCEDURES Services are innovated and produced together with the local players and inhabitants. The services provide new kind of value for the local people. Unnecessary bureaucracy is cut away from the processes of the city and the organisational structure is lowered. Digitalisation is utilised efficiently. Seamless service chains and digitalisation!

• Working and management in networks – contributing innovation, team work, dialogue.

• Effectiveness of services and creation of public value, service design.

• Agile development – customer-oriented service processes without unnecessary bureaucracy: the organisational structure of Kouvola meets the demand.

• Effective implementation and utilisation of digitalisation.

Internal policies

27

COMPETENT PERSONNEL AND EMPOWERING LEADERSHIPHuman resource management is empowering. The competence and development of the employees of the city are key values. We take good care of the employees. The personnel are encouraged to participate, create ideas and work in an entrepreneurial spirit. The employees have shared interests. Employees – the most important resource of the city organization!

• Competence, internal entrepreneurship, and participation and contribution opportunities of personnel.

• Target-oriented and effective efforts and a shared vision of the targets.

• Responsible and authorising leadership.• Proactive efforts for idea creation in an

inspiring atmosphere.• Good customer service and quick response

to customer needs.

27

28

CONTROLLED AND STABLE ECONOMYThe investments aim at the growth of the region: growth in the number of businesses, jobs and inhabitants. The investments are planned in a sustainable manner. The price level of the services is kept at a reasonable level, as are the costs of housing. Efficient investments!

• Sustainable economy and productivity – the investments are proportioned to the economic carrying capacity.

• Reasonably-priced and high-quality public services.

Internal policies

29

CO-OPERATION AND LOBBYING Kouvola works actively in the interfaces of social and health services as well as regional co-operation. Network management is a tool for building easy everyday lives for the inhabitants by producing fluent and seamless services together with operators in the area. Decision-making is transparent. The impacts of the decision options are evaluated in advance. The group companies and holdings are managed efficiently to generate benefits for the inhabitants. Purchases promote local production and employment in a sustainable manner. Network management and transparent decision-making!

• Efficient utilisation of holdings by the city to benefit the inhabitants.

• Short-term and long-term measurable targets set for the companies and the follow-up of the targets.

• Co-operation and lobbying in the interfaces of social and health services as well as regional co-operation.

• Consistent decision-making and proactive evaluation of options.

• Openness and transparency in decision-making.• Promotion of local production, innovation and emp-

loyment in procurement, considering the energy and environmental impacts.

30

You need to beware what you want because you’ll get it.Andy McCoy

”

30

31

Logistics location between two metropolises / KooKoo /

KPL / Kouvot / Mielakka skiing centre / skydiving sports /

motorsports / rock climbing

/ sailplaning / no congestions /

individual areas / Alvar Aalto

/ Kymi Sinfonietta / Kouvola theatre / North Kymi music institute /

Poikilo-museums / countryside /

Tykkimäki / Verla World Heritage

Site / Arboretum Mustila / Xamk /

Kymijoki River / Vuohijärvi /

Repovesi national park / Väliväylä canoe

STRENGTHS

31

32

Lannistava Uskaltava Innostava

CITY OF KOUVOLA

PL 85, Torikatu 10 45100 Kouvola - FINLAND Tel. +358 20 61511 strategia@kouvola.fi

www.kouvola.fi/kouvolakasvuun

KOUVOLA 2030The vision of Kouvola is to be a platform for growth – possibilities for new ideas and new growth. Key growth factor is to increase the number of inhabitants!

The selected spearheads are: growth of children, growth of young people and growth of businesses.

#kouvola2030 #kouvolakartalle #kouvolakasvuun

2023 /

2017/ COURAGEOUS

GROWTH MUST HAVE SPEARHEADS, BUT WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE!