Joensuu's Vitality Pledge – The Easiest City for Businesses in Finland

Joensuu aims to be the easiest city for businesses in Finland. To support this goal, the city, Joensuu Entrepreneurs Association, Pielisjoki Entrepreneurs, and Pyhäselkä Entrepreneurs have signed a vitality pledge for the duration of the current city council's term. The pledge commits to fostering an entrepreneur-friendly environment and enhancing the region's vitality. The shared goal is to strengthen the desire to relocate, invest, and operate business in Joensuu. We want to make it easy for both new and long-established entrepreneurs to thrive in Joensuu!

Five Concrete Steps to Improve Business Conditions

The five focus areas of the vitality pledge will concretely improve the conditions for businesses. As companies grow, so does the vitality of the city.

1. Effective Dialogue:
   We are committed to maintaining active dialogue with the business sector. The methods of dialogue will be agreed upon with representatives of the entrepreneurs.
   
   
2. Streamlined Zoning and Permit Processes:
   Zoning and permit processes must be efficient, and companies' perspectives and ideas will be considered early in the preparation phase.
   
   
3. Entrepreneur-Friendly Procurement:
   The city will survey the market before making procurements and is committed to holding dialogues whenever possible. Efforts will be made to break down procurements into smaller units, allowing micro and small-to-medium-sized businesses to participate in tenders.
   
   
4. Business Impact Assessment:
   The city's decision-making will regularly take into account how solutions affect the operational conditions of businesses, using where applicable the handbook provided by the Federation of Finnish Enterprises.
   
   
5. Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Utilizing the Municipality Barometer:
   The city will promote an entrepreneur-friendly atmosphere in collaboration with entrepreneur associations. The results of the Municipality Barometer will be monitored, and joint actions will be drawn up based on its findings.
   
   

The implementation of the focus areas will be monitored annually in meetings between the city and entrepreneur associations.

The pledge was signed on September 5, 2024, by the City of Joensuu and the region's entrepreneur associations – Joensuu Entrepreneurs, Pielisjoki Entrepreneurs, and Pyhäselkä Entrepreneurs.

Watch the recording of the Vitality Pledge signing by Joensuu Mayor Jere Penttilä and Chair of Joensuun Yrittäjät, Katja Kareinen, at the Entrepreneur’s Day celebration at City Hall on September 5, 2024 (recording available in Finnish on Joensuu Entrepreneurs Association's Facebook page).