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Chemical cluster at forefront of Europe
13.2.2008Riku Rinta-Jouppi, Project Manager of the Helsinki REACH Centre is a busy man. Meetings with chemical agencies in different countries have sent him from one continent to another for more than a year now. And the aims are high: Helsinki is being built into Europe’s capital of chemicals.The Helsinki REACH Centre, winner of the TEKEL Best Practice Award 2007, is a concept developed by Helsinki Business and Science Park Oy Ltd of a cluster of chemicals-based representative offices. The purpose of the project is to attract to Helsinki the representatives of chemical importers from countries outside Europe, with the lure of the new European Chemicals Agency. Efforts are being made to make Helsinki into a cluster of chemical safety with a comprehensive range of services and a ready concept of representative offices. – We offer representatives such things as model agreements and ready plans for setting up an office, as far as both office space and living accommodation for employees are concerned. The representative offices of different countries are being invited to join up, and they are being introduced to all the key people, says Mr Rinta-Jouppi. A global arena for meetings Meetings concerning the setting up of representative offices in Helsinki have taken place with chemical industry representatives from countries such as the USA, Russia, Turkey, Canada, South Korea, Japan and China. This flexible concept has worked well, despite the different industrial structures in these countries. Flexibility is also required of the negotiators:
– The common interests of all have been of help in meetings. Above all, you should, however, be competent at what you do, and also manage in many kinds of English. Knowledge of the local culture is also an advantage, mentions Mr Rinta-Jouppi. – For example, in meetings the efficient South Koreans are used to getting straight down to work, when someone comes up with a new idea or they notice that some information is missing. If necessary, the documents will be dug out, with people running all over the office. It’s really impressive how they get things done, even though other factors, like the Seoul traffic jams might slow them down in reaching the target, laughs Mr Rinta-Jouppi.
Aiming to be Europe's capital of chemicalsOn a national level too, the harvesting of significant meetings is currently underway. The China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals Importers & Exporters (CCCMC) has already opened its own representative office in Helsinki. And there is much more in the pipeline: in May 2008, Helsinki will host the International Congress on Chemical Safety, which will evaluate the practical impact of the REACH legislation on EU-bound chemicals traffic, introduce participants to the people working at the European Chemicals Agency, and serve as a forum in which industrial federations from outside the EU can come together to consider best practices. About 500 participants are expected.
Text: Annaleena KuronenPhotos: © TEKELLogo: © Helsinki REACH Centre
Updated February 6th, 2008
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