28.4.2020 Blog A functional city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic Cities are currently being tested to the extreme with the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Simultaneously a health crisis, social crisis, and...
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...
27.6.2019 Speeches SEA20 – Helsinki and the Future of Maritime: City view & local development. Round table discussion, Mayor’s opening remarks. Ladies and gentlemen, The sea has throughout times been a source of identity, power and wealth. Maritime locations have played...
3.6.2019 Speeches EBAN Helsinki 2019 – European Business Angels Network, opening words Ladies and gentlemen, As a small nation, with limited natural resources, we Finns have always known that our success will...
29.5.2019 Speeches Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance Annual Meeting, Mayor Vapaavuori’s greeting Distinguished guests, It’s an honor and a privilege as a new member of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance to host...
26.4.2019 Uncategorized Data and AI Ethics Seminar, Mayor Vapaavuori’s opening speech, Sofia Future Farm My favorite quote comes 2 000 years ago when Aristoteles said that people move to cities to find employment, but...
21.3.2019 Uncategorized Eurocities 2nd Mayors Summit 20.-21.3.2019, Mayor Jan Vapaavuori’s speech Madam Chair, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, Currently, urban areas are a home to 75% of the population within the...
3.12.2018 Speeches Breaking Waves 2018 Dear Friends, It’s my great pleasure to welcome you to one of the most important maritime cities in the world...
8.11.2018 Speeches HundrEd Innovation Summit Dear friends, dear education innovators, The purpose of education is to give every child the opportunity and tools to lead...
7.11.2018 Speeches EPP Congress in Helsinki Opening Speech Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen, dear European Friends, This morning as I was walking to the City...
10.10.2018 Speeches Preview Opening at Helsinki Art Museum HAM, Gilbert & George -exhibition Dear Gilbert and George, Dear supporters and friends of the arts, Freedom is the essence of good life. Freedom to...
10.10.2018 Speeches HAM Gilbert & George VIP preview Dear Gilbert and George, Dear supporters and friends of the arts, Freedom is the essence of good life. Freedom to...
12.9.2018 Speeches Helsinki Design Awards 2018 Award winners, Ladies and Gentlemen, One of my favorite ideas inside the Helsinki city strategy is the combination of the...
