Kauhajoki International

Maahanmuuttajat ja julkiset palvelut -seminaari
Aika: Tiistai 23.3.2010 kello 9.00–14.30
Paikka: Suupohjan ammatti-instituutti, Suupohjasali - (Oppitie 4, Kauhajoki)
Seminaarin järjestävät yhteistyössä Etelä-Pohjanmaan liiton toteuttamat Kehittyvät kuntapalvelut -hanke ja Kansainvälinen Etelä-Pohjanmaa (ISO) -hanke sekä Suupohjan Elinkeinotoimen Kuntayhtymän toteuttama Tervetuloa kotiin, Suupohjaan! -hanke.

Seminaariohjelma - PDF

INKA and Ruoka Messut (Food Festival)

Ruoka Messut (food festival) nowadays is one of the biggest events in Kauhajoki. It was established in 1991 with only few sellers, few visitors, the range of food was narrow, not many people knew about food festival. But in this time with about 140 sellers, organizations, food stores and all together about 10000 people participated in from 4.9.2009 to 6.9.2009 making it to be one of the biggest festivals not only in Kauhajoki but also in Etelä-Suupohja region.

This year the International Center of Kauhajoki region, INKA also took part in Ruoka Messut from very beginning day. INKA was there with the main purpose was to introduce the activities of INKA and “Welcome home to Suupohja” project and to let people know more about international issues in Kauhajoki and whole Suupohja.

As a part of program INKA also sold some stuff that related to food, Vietnamese green tee, chopsticks, some Vietnamese and Ecuadorian hand made things. We had no idea that the business would be so successful! For foreigners who also took part to help INKA in the festival were very surprised to see how Finnish consumer habit and how Finnish react with doing something to have prize. In the end we sold out all our tea bags, all chopsticks and almost 600 people took part in answering the quiz!

For 3 days the festival itself was not very long but INKA was succeed in introducing and giving information about the international issues in Kauhajoki and its region. INKA also are looking forward to taking part in other events which can be great chance to introduce INKA and let people know about it.

The International Center of Kauhajoki Region - Inka- is now open! Inka will become the central point for international issues Kauhajoki. The center is a information point and it will serve immigrants living in the region, local businesses and basically just anyone interested in international issues. The center is also a meeting point for different people, different cultures, thoughts and ideas - it is indeed extremely important to learn from different cultures.

Inka is open for everyone - Welcome!

Now you can easily check where the International Cafe’ and the Kauhajoki city are based thanks to the new interactive map that you will find in the ‘MAP’ page of this website!

Kauhajoki International Cafe’
(Suupohjan Elinkeinotoimen Kuntayhtymä)
PL 112
61801 Kauhajoki
FINLAND

This sub-region called Suupohja is located in Western Finland in the province (region) called Etelä-Pohjanmaa (South Ostrobothnia). The distance to the Finnish capital, Helsinki, is 300-350 km and to the centre of the province, Seinäjoki, 60-100 km. The area is 3 126 sqkm, and the number of inhabitants is 30 000.
The sub-region of Suupohja includes five municipalities: Isojoki Jurva, Karijoki, Kauhajoki and Teuva. The Suupohja sub-region is a province with 30 000 inhabitants in southern South Ostrobothnia.

Mr. Le Danh Vinh, Vice Minister of Trade and Industry in Hanoi

The delegation of South Ostrobotnia met Mr. Le Danh Vinh, Vice Minister of Trade and Industry in Hanoi.

According to the Vice Minister:

• the GDP has grown on average 7 % per year during the last 20 years and the foreign trade has grown 20 % this year.
• the climate is nice for agriculture products and tropical fruits.
• Vietnamese textile industry employs two million persons
• furniture industry is very strong in Vietnam (recently grown up to 2 billion USD)

During the meeting, the Vice Minister brought up some of the business areas in which South Ostrobotnian companies could have good chances to enter the Vietnamese market:

• food processing & food machinery industry
• electricity production with biofuel and wind power station for public buildings
• labour force (training and education)

The representatives of Seinajoki University Applied Sciences Ms Helli Kitinoja, Manager of International Affairs and Ms Ritva Leppanen, International Coordinator of the Business School have good news from the visit to the Lotus University (Hoa Sen) in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City.

The student and teacher mobility, as well as joint activities in the development of the joint project and the North-South-South application have been agreed between the Universities. For the Finnish students it is also possible to have work placement in the multinational companies in Vietnam.

A bileteral agreement has already been signed by the University of Hoa Sen and is now waiting for the signature of Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences.

The day ended with the marvellous reception offered by City of Ho Chi Minh.

in the photo: Kari Nuuttila and chopsticks

Vietnamese food is usually mild, not strongly spiced or fatty. Daily food is rice , pork, fish and vegetables. Chicken is often served on important occasions. Specialities are spring rolls and noodle soup. You may have noticed in the attached photo that after couple hours of practise the Director of Department of Social and Healthcare service Kari Nuuttila was able to eat the noodle soup with the chopsticks. Each member of the Finnish delegation has learned how to use the new eating ‘equipments’ and there is no feeling of hunger.

There are appr. 8 million inhabitants and 5 million motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon).

It means that every other person has their own motorbike to travel in cities. These vehicles are more common than cars. Funny to say that only in Ho Chi Minh city there are more motorbikes than inhabitans in Finland . The only thing that the group of Finns has been afraid of is the Vietnamese traffic. Next month there is going to be a law which forces people to wear the helmet. So there might be an opportunity for some Finnish helmet producer in Vietnam….?