North Karelia Hosts Forestry Delegation from Hokkaido Japan

North Karelia Hosts Forestry Delegation from Hokkaido Japan

Hokkaido Forestry Delegation Visited FinnMETKO in Jämsä and Forest BioEconomy-related Sites in North Karelia from August 29 to September 7, 2024

During the Hokkaido Forestry Delegation’s stay in Joensuu on September 2, 2024, Mr. Markus Hirvonen, North Karelia Region Mayor, and Ms. Naomi Moriyama, BIOSYS North Karelia International Growth Ecosystem Project Manager and Communications Specialist for the Regional Council of North Karelia, welcomed the members of the Japanese delegation at the Council’s office, Pielisjoen Linna, and presented the Region Highlights and the BIOSYS Ecosystem Overview to the distinguished visitors.

From left Ms. Naomi Moriyama and Mr. Markus Hirvonen. Photo: “Smart Forestry EZO Model Building Council”「スマート林業EZOモデル構築協議会」

Hokkaido Forestry Delegation. Photo: Naomi Moriyama

Mr. Yasunao Tachihara, Director of Forest Planning, Hokkaido Government Fisheries and Forestry Department, led the group. RIVERIA Valtimo Campus, a forestry vocational collage which has been training students from Hokkaido Prefecture Technical School Kita-no-mori, and KESLA, a trusted partner of forestry businesses in modern forest technology, jointly organized their itinerary and travel logistics.

After the BIOSYS presentation, Region Mayor Mr. Hirvonen hosted a locally-flavored dinner for the guests at Bistro Heili at the Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel. The restaurant chef crafted a unique menu using seasonal local ingredients from North Karelia:

Appetizer: Nettle soup with Jerusalem artichoke and apples

Main: Fried pike-perch from Lake Pielinen with chanterelle risotto and pike roe sauce or
Fried lamb fillet with chanterelle risotto and red wine sauce infused with garlic

Dessert: Buckthorn posset with marinated buckthorns and white chocolate

During the dinner, Mr. Tachihara, Mr. Pasi Nieminen CEO, Kesla, and Mr. Hirvonen discussed a wide range of topics such as competitive strengths of North Karelia, the state of the bioforestry industry and current government forestry policies.

Special thank you goes to Mr. Janne Häyrynen, Kesla, for the impeccable coordination.

From Left Mr. Mr. Yasunao Tachihara, Director of Forest Planning and Mr. Mr. Pasi Nieminen CEO, KESLA. Photo: Naomi Moriyama

Bistro Heili Table Settings for the Hokkaido Forestry Delegation Dinner. Photo: Naomi Moriyama

Mr. Markus Hirvonen enjoying conversations with Mr. Tachihara and Mr. Nieminen over regional cuisine at Bistro Heili. Photo: Naomi Moriyama

The BIOSYS North Karelia International Growth Ecosystem is run by Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus as a project lead, the Regional Council of North Karelia Pohjois-Karjalan maakuntaliitto, University of Eastern Finland and MKN Itä-Suomi | Rural Women´s Advisory Centre (RWAC) of Eastern Finland. The project is funded by Renewing and Competent Finland 2021–2027, EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme’s Just Transition Fund – JTF, and Regional Council of North Karelia.

For more information: Naomi Moriyama [email protected]