Welcome visitor in Savonlinna
In a bid to foster international cooperation and address shared challenges, the cities of Detmold, Germany, and Savonlinna, Finland, are exploring potential partnerships. Both cities have shown keen interest in each other's recent developments in promoting sustainability and solving problems in innovative ways.
The partnership, if established, could potentially extend to areas such as vocational training and cultural exchange programs. The current mayor of Savonlinna, Markus Hämaäläinen, recently welcomed guests from Detmold in the town hall. This meeting follows a similar international program that Detmold has with Spain, where Spanish childcare workers are employed in Detmold's kindergartens.
Mayor Frank Hilker of Detmold, who visited Savonlinna as part of a delegation from the administration, was particularly impressed by the city's unique attractions, including the 550-year-old medieval Olavinlinna fortress. Savonlinna, situated in the Finnish lake district, is known as the "City of Education" and boasts a renowned vocational school, the Savonlinna Music and Dance Institute, and the Music Academy, with around 4,500 students.
Savonlinna, located 330 kilometers northeast of Helsinki, faces challenges such as a decline in birth rates, 15% unemployment, and high rates of people leaving the region after graduation or studies. The city, which covers approximately 3,600 square kilometers, with about 40 percent consisting of waterways, is also grappling with the issue of vacancy in its center. The Detmold idea of targeted promotion to counteract this sustainably has caught the international eye.
Meanwhile, the city of Detmold, situated approximately 2,300 miles away, is known as Germany's greenest city. The ongoing discussions about the city partnership between Detmold and Savonlinna, as detailed in a recent press release from the city portal, aim to address the skilled worker shortage in Detmold by providing employment opportunities for job-seeking Finns.
Mayor Frank Hilker expresses his hope that if they can establish a branch-specific partnership that benefits both cities, it would strengthen their friendship significantly. The target industry-specific program planner, however, is not specified in the available information.
The international crisis triggered by the Ukraine war is affecting Finland, particularly in the eastern part of the country, where the border with Russia is closed for over one and a half years. This closure, 80 kilometers from Savonlinna, has led to severed social connections and significant restrictions on tourism as Russians cannot obtain visas for Finland.
For inquiries about the press release, please contact Daniela Lang via email or phone number 05231 977 201. Mayor Hilker and officials from both administrations aim to evolve the city partnership with Savonlinna into a "win-win situation" that provides mutual benefits for both cities.
