8.7.2021 Speeches 2021 High-level political forum on sustainable development – session on Going Local, 8 July 2021 “The Voluntary Local Reviews are a pragmatic tool that any city or region can adopt on their own terms. It’s...
24.3.2021 Speeches Helsinki Symposium, 24 March 2021 “Aristotle said that people come together in cities in order to live, and they remain together in order to live...
16.3.2021 Speeches Helsinki Energy Challenge Final Event: Results & Learnings, 16 March 2021 “Dear participants of the Helsinki Energy Challenge, Dear friends, We are in the middle of an un-before-seen crisis. It unifies...
9.2.2021 Speeches Setting up a Center for the 4th Industrial Revolution Affiliate in Finland, High-level Business Roundtable, 9 February 2021 “Dear friends, We live in an interconnected, fast-paced, solutions-oriented and human-centered society. As the world around us moves faster and...
18.12.2020 Speeches Let´s talk about the future, 17 December 2020 “Dear Friends, Over half of the world’s population lives in urban reality. Every year the amount of people moving to...
25.11.2020 Speeches Match XR event, 25 November 2020 “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m very happy to be here today to open this event. This event has all my favorite...
4.9.2020 Speeches Helsinki Design Week – Climate College, Welcoming words, 4 September 2020 “Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Climate College Attendees, I want to wish a warm welcome to everyone who has joined us...
1.9.2020 Speeches Helsinki Freedom concept pre-launch, 1 September 2020 “It’s likely that few consider moving to Germany or The Netherlands. However, Berlin or Amsterdam are attractive places for many...
17.7.2020 Speeches HLPF 2020 event, The Utility of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) in COVID-19 Management and Recovery for Local Governments, 17 July 2020 “In 2019 Helsinki became the second city in the world to commit to the Voluntary Local Review of the Sustainable...
17.6.2020 Speeches Impact of COVID-19 on investment promotion – Virtual meeting of European city/region-based IPAs, 17 June 2020 “A famous quote by the Greek philosopher Aristotle says that people come together in cities in order to live; they...
16.6.2020 Speeches Helsinki Energy Challenge, HEC-live event 16 June 2020 “Climate change is a global crisis that will not be solved through quick fixes. It is a crisis that the...
11.6.2020 Speeches Future Mobility Finland, Green & Smart Recovery Mobility 2.0, 11 June 2020 The Future of Mobility is a combination of vision and function “In December 2019 we were living in a world...
25.11.2019 Speeches High-Level Conference on Data Economy, reception at the Helsinki City Hall, 25 November 2019 Helsinki has opened more data than any other city in the world besides the City of New York. For us...
19.11.2019 Speeches UNTIL: Inclusion and Diversity Pays, launch of a UN report on Why Inclusion and Diversity Matters for Start-Ups, 18.11.2019 I have to say that I wish we lived in a world where reports, like the one launched today, would...
11.11.2019 Speeches From the Divided to the City of Freedom: The 30th Anniversary for the Fall of the Wall, 8 November 2019 “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was...
8.11.2019 Speeches MUJI flagship store opening 7 November 2019, Mayor Vapaavuori’s opening remarks Your Excellency, President Matsuzaki, Minister Skinnari, Dear Friends, Last Spring I experienced a MUJI epiphany. I was walking around...
7.11.2019 Speeches HundrED Global Launch 6.11.2019 Dear education professionals and innovators, For the past two weeks I have been meeting with experts, thinkers and leaders from...
25.10.2019 Speeches Hanken Conferment of Doctoral Degrees, Friday 25 October 2019 The community and representatives of Hanken, Distinguished guests, As a university student I could never in a million years imagine...
9.10.2019 Speeches Helsinki Impact Conference, Mayor Jan Vapaavuori’s opening speech Dear Helsinki Impact Conference speakers and participants, Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends, “It was the best of times, it was the...
2.10.2019 Speeches Helsinki improves English-language services According to the Greek philosopher Aristoteles, people move to cities to seek work and income, but they remain there for...
6.9.2019 Speeches Helsinki Design Week Opening Ceremony Dear Friends, How to save the world? We live in an era where only this question matters. We are the...
5.9.2019 Speeches World Tourism Federation (WTCF) Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2019 – Closing Speech Esteemed Vice Mayor of Beijing, Dear Secretary-General of WTCF, Excellencies, Colleagues, Dear WTCF members, Dear Friends, I am tremendously proud...
5.9.2019 Speeches World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2019 Welcome Dinner – Speech Esteemed Vice Mayor of Beijing, Dear Secretary-General of WTCF, Excellencies, Colleagues, Dear WTCF members, Dear Friends, After a successful first...
5.9.2019 Speeches World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2019 Opening Ceremony at Finlandia Hall – Opening Speech Esteemed Vice Mayor of Beijing, Dear Secretary-General of WTCF, Excellencies, Colleagues, Dear WTCF members, Dear Friends, It is my honor...
