City of Porvoo’s international activities

City of Porvoo is engaged in wide-ranging international activities. These include, among other things, promoting multiculturalism, cooperation with sister cities, international projects, strengthening vitality, as well as developing human resources and services in a global context.

The population of Porvoo is rapidly becoming more international. In 2024, the share of foreign-language speakers was already over 9 %, and forecasts suggest it will increase by almost 90 % by 2040. In Porvoo, more than 50 different native languages are spoken at the schools and more than 35 at the day-care centres.

The city invests in inclusive services, cultural understanding, and successful integration. The goal is to build a city where everyone can feel welcome and involved.

Porvoo has 11 sister cities, the most active of which are Lund (Sweden), Hamar (Norway), and Dalvík (Iceland). Nordic cooperation is based on common strategies, meetings, and youth exchanges.

Forms of Nordic cooperation:

• Nordic Summit – main meeting organised every two years
• Coordination meetings – interim meetings for planning and monitoring
• Youth exchanges and camps
• Joint projects and seminars

Porvoo has 11 Sister Cities:

Units in the City of Porvoo actively participate in international projects, like the Erasmus+ and Nordplus programmes. Projects to strengthen competence, networks, and intercultural understanding, are organised at schools, in youth services, and within cultural activities.

For example,

• Cooperation between Linnankosken lukio upper secondary school and Guardiagrele (Italy) and Viljandi (Estonia)
• Youth services’ EU projects to promote democracy and climate action
• Porvoon luontokoulu’s Erasmus cooperation with Slovenia, Romania, and Italy

Porvoo is developing the brand Invest in Porvoo to attract international companies, experts, and investments. The aim is to strengthen the city’s position as a location for establishments internationally and to support the growth of companies in the region.

Related activities:

• Establishment guidance for international businesses
• Network cooperation (Team Finland, Business Finland, ELY Centre)
• Service path for international experts

The city receives many international guests each year – ministers, embassies, expert and media groups, and student delegations. The visits make the city better known to the public and strengthen the networks.

Porvoo develops multilingual and plain language communication. The number of English-language content on the website is constantly increasing. Also artificial intelligence is utilised in translations. The goal is to provide clear and accessible information to all residents.

Internationality is reflected in the city’s services and sectors of early childhood education, education, leisure, tourism, and recruitments. The city develops the language skills and cultural skills of its personnel and is recruiting more and more multilingual workforce.

To develop the city’s international activities, the following are needed:

• Clear support structures and resources
• Common operating models and networks
• Knowledge-based management and measurement of impact
• Strategic alignments in the new city strategy

Porvoo’s international activities are part of the city’s future. Cooperation, multiculturalism, and global networking strengthen vitality, expertise, and sense of community in Porvoo.