| 14 |
Optimism for the Baltic Region. by Victor Kononov, Copenhagen
Speaking at the 10th Baltic Development Forum Summit Dr Christian Ketels, author of the State of the Region Report, stated that the Region is well positioned to weather the global economic storm.
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| 20 |
The End of a Forest Fairytale. by Valeri Potashov, Petrozavodsk
The main industry of Russia’s Karelia region is strongly dependant on export to Finland and other countries. This export orientation helped the forest industry to grow and modernise in the past two decades. Unfortunately the world economic crisis has already hit the Karelian industry really bad.
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| 26 |
Russian Money in Finnish Real-Estate. by Gorran Svensson, Saarijärvi
The citizens of a small Finnish town of Saarijärvi are trying to find clarity regarding a large investment project which includes the acquisition of a significant amount of communal land by a company they find extremely suspicious.
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| 32 |
Growing in Crisis. by Alexsanrde Istomin, St.Petersburg
Finnish food chains are catching the crisis wave and using it to make successful investments in Russia. It seams that the market for supermarkets is not yet satiated in Russia and the consumers are favouring this type of shops above all others.
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| 38 |
A Growing Industry. by Mark Ostanin, Tallinn
During the last two decades the textile industry in Estonia has gone through a significant makeover. One of the companies that emerged on the international scene is the Baltika Group. The Group successfully operates four retail concepts: Monton, Mosaic, Baltman and Ivo Nikkolo.
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| 42 |
Working with Silver. by Veronika Pennanen, Hämeenlinna
Silverware has been in fashion for ages and is still popular with the taste-conscious consumer today. In Finland one company dominates the market - Kultakeskus Oy. Its products include silverware, tableware, cutlery and jewellery and a significant amount of work is still done by hand to insure high quality of the end product.
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| 50 |
Ordinary Space Flight. by Alexej Smirnov, Kiruna
In 2012 the company Spaceport Sweden plans to give ordinary people the opportunity to become non-professional astronauts by taking off from Spaceport Sweden. They are working in cooperation with Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial space line.
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| 56 |
Sea Gates for Saint Petersburg. by Marina Koluyartseva, St.Petersburg
St. Petersburg is doing everything to intensify its magnetic pull on tourists. This includes significant work on the deepening of the sea canal in order to be able to accept large cruise ships and liners. And although the financial crisis has put a damper on the expectations, the future of the tourism industry in this city seams bright.
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| 62 |
Moving a Town. by Alexej Smirnov, Kiruna
The Swedish town of Kiruna is located in the northern most part of the country and is significantly dependant on iron ore extraction. It is the mines that are destabilising the ground on which the city is built and causing a mass relocation. The whole city will gradually move northwest over the coming decade.
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| 66 |
A Pirate Haven in Europe. by Sergei Tushin, Gdansk
The issue of fishing quotas has been in the headlines of the Baltic countries for many years. Surprise checks showed that fishermen in almost all countries fishing for trout in the Baltic Sea were exceeding their quotas, but none so significantly as Polish fishermen.
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| 70 |
Christmas Decorating as an Art. by Natalia Gracheva, Stockholm
For the fifth year in a row the Swedish hotel Birger Jarl is hosting a Christmas tree extravaganza in its lobby. The fashionable hotel attracts thousand of visitors with its tree display, with each tree decorated by a famous local person or designer.
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| 74 |
The Whole World in your Phone. by Nikolai Sorkut, Stockholm
Mobile phones have long ago stopped being just communication devices and turned into life necessities. Their functions are becoming more complex and their capabilities are widening. Society, however, is not unanimous on the effects of such expansion.
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| 80 |
Zipping Zippers. by Natalia Gracheva, Visby
A broken zipper can cost an Olympic medal, as happened in the case of the Swedish swimmer in Beijing. However there is an alternative to replacing the zipper or throwing away the product – Zip Clip Solutions offers "Zlide On", assuring that it will mend broken zip fasteners by a very simple procedure.
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| 86 |
Scandinavian Design on the Roads. by Karita Kiviniemi
Volvo has created a new concept vehicle combining its traditional safety features with a new contemporary style and latest technology – the Volvo XC60.
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| 92 |
Business Legislation
• Debt Collection in Russia and other Countries
(materials prepared by Unicomlegal Russia)
• Finnish Labour Legislation: annual paid vacation
(materials prepared by NordLex Law Offices)
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New Horizons/WINTER+
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| 96 |
Visit to Joulupukki.
A fairytale for grownups about the preparations Finnish Santa Claus and his wife make in anticipation of a visit from the neighbouring Russian Ded Moroz.
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| 98 |
Gifts from Santa Claus.
Now in the Helsinki-Vantaa airport tourists can by gifts from real Santa Claus. Finnish Santa Claus Fondation has open shop for two months.
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| 10 |
Winter Tourism.
Finland is especially popular among tourists in the winter season, and this is no surprise, the recreational and sport industry is highly developed and very well organised. People can enjoy everything from swimming to skating and downhill skiing.
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| 10 |
Museums as a Necessity of Life.
For a country of roughly five million people Finland has a surprisingly large number of museums – more than 1 thousand! A certain number of these are made with donations from citizens, who are interested in preserving the past. Entrance to many of the museums is free, since the authorities consider them an essential part of the citizen’s wellbeing.
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| 10 |
A Taste of Finland.
The Finnish food culture is deeply rooted in tradition, but at the same time it is constantly attentive to new trends. In addition to good taste, the Finns appreciate freshness and safety in their food.
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| 10 |
Land of Winter Roads.
Winter is the most perilous time for automobile drivers, as snow sleet and ice turn the most ordinary roads into dangerous slides. Finish road authorities have a wealth of experience working with cold conditions, but even on the most well kept roads the driver should still be prepared for winter extremity.
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