Kauhajoki International

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….?

int the photo: Kari Penttila, Mai Renko ja Riitta Saaristo

The senior delegation of Finland flew 20 hours from Helsinki to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam via Frankfurt.

Right now there is no direct flight between these two countries. The delegation hopes that after this journey the co-operation between Finnair and Vietnam Airline will be started as soon as possible. The service of Vietnam Airline was excellent during the long flight.

Vietnam is on the list of the world’s top 20 tourist destinations. With the plan of Vietnam Administration of Turism’s targets to attract more foreign visitors to the country, which welcomed 1,8 million foreign holiday seekers since the beginning of this year.
Tourism from the Republic of Korea topped the list with 223 000, followed by Chinese, American and Japanese visitors.

in the photo: Ambassador Tran Ngoc An and Mayor of Kauhajoki Antti Rantakokko

On Friday23 rd November the senior delegation of South Ostrobotnia (15 persons)started their Fact Finding trip to Vietnam.

The delegation consists of:

• Mr Tapio Liinamaa, President of Regional Council
• Mr Antti Rantakokko, Mayor of Kauhajoki
• Mr Kari Nuuttila, Director, Department of Social and Health Service of Kauhajoki Town
• Mr Pertti Kinnunen, Director of Regional Commerce Chamber
• Ms Anne Katajamaki, Managing Director of Regional Business Association
• Ms Mai Renko, Manager of Regional Internationalisation Project
• Mr Vesa Koivunen, Rector of JAMI Vocational School
• Ms Helli Kitinoja, International Affairs Manager of Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences
• Ms Ritva Leppanen, International Coordinator of Business School, Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences
• Mr Juha Suksi, Pesmel Oy, Sales Manager
• Mr Risto Piipari, Saatotuli Oy, Director
• Mr Heikki Pihlajamaki, Legistum Oy, PR Director
• Mr Kari Penttila, Teuvan Keitintehdas Oy, Director
• Ms Riitta Saaristo, Fox Dance Oy, Director
• Ms Johanna Peltoniemi, Sub-Regional Business Advisor

In the evening the group attended a reception at the Embassy of Vietnam in Helsinki hosted by Ambassador Tran Ngoc An. The Ambassador of Vietnam gave to travellers last minutes information and advices. The reception ended with a Vietnamese style dinner starting with typical Vietnamese sea food, spring rolls and finishing with fried bananas with ice cream. The atmosphere was very friendly and this is a sort of preparation of soft landing for the group who go to Vietnam for the first time.
The Ambassador of Vietnam said: “Antti (Rantakokko) I hope your experience from this trip deepens our established relationship and we can start something concrete”

This is where the Kauhajoki International Cafe’ is based!

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

Stay tuned! More information available soon!