Internationalization is currently an issue for every company. Jyväskylä Regional Development Company Jykes Ltd conducts active cooperation with its international partners to ensure firms in the Jyväskylä region find new business worldwide.
In the early part of 2005 designer Samuli Alonen from Jyväskylä toured Paris for a couple of weeks forging international contacts. In the space of two weeks he succeeded in visiting 70 art galleries presenting his work.
"The Finnishness and closeness to nature in my works interest the French. Particularly my Citybird piece aroused interest in many galleries. With several galleries we've already agreed to begin cooperation in the form of a few products", Alonen states.
Alonen, who graduated from the Kuopio Academy of Design in 2000, considers himself more of an artist than a smith. The fruits of his labour include business gifts, decorative items and sculptures in iron, bronze and stone.
Alonen is strongly of the opinion that an international reputation is a must for the artist of today. He has positive recollections of his first international exhibition in Belgium in 2003. At the end of 2005 pieces by Samuli and his father Kari Alonen, who works in stone, will be on show at an exhibition organised by the Finnish Cultural Institute for Benelux in Amsterdam. Cooperation is also in the pipeline rather further afield.
"With the help of Jykes' contacts we're trying to find a dealer for my products in Japan", Alonen reveals.
"Jykes' international contacts have served as a foundation for the export of expertise related to environmental technology", says Satu Freyberg, executive director of international services at Jykes.
For instance, the environmental branch consulting firm Suomen IP-Tekniikka Oy has succeeded in forging international contacts with the help of Jykes' international services.
"Thanks to the company visits associated with Envimark, an environmental business networking and marketing project, we managed to find good partners in Hungary and together with them we've submitted tenders for several EU waste management projects", explains Janne Huttunen, administrative manager at Suomen IP-Tekniikka Oy.
One of Jyväskylä Regional Development Company Jykes Ltd's chief tasks is to promote the internationalization of companies in its region. In this work Jykes has the assistance of an extensive cooperative network. Sustained effort to create contacts is vital, because Jykes takes the view that the best results are generated through personal contacts.
"We have a subsidiary in Russia and our own representatives in China, Poland and Hungary. One important partner is EURADA, the European Association of Development Agencies, but we also have productive relations with organisations in the United States and Japan", Satu Freyberg continues.
According to Freyberg development companies are the hubs of their respective regions, enjoying good relationships with firms, educational institutions and the authorities in the surrounding area.
"The cooperation conducted by Jykes with development companies in other countries makes it possible to establish contacts between companies. In addition collaboration in international projects and through EURADA promotes internationalization", Freyberg underlines. Jykes' international services can offer firms a wide selection on services related to internationalization.
"The idea is to help firms in all matters connected to doing business internationally, since small enterprises in particular are preoccupied with day-to-day routines."
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Photo 1: Alonen's Citybird pieces were on display at the EXPO 2005 world exposition in Japan, at which the City of Jyväskylä, Jykes and regional companies were also represented in the form of a joint stand.
Photo 2 (below): Designer Samuli Alonen's dream is to find the right international partners who will sell and exhibit his works of art around the world. For his part he wishes to concentrate on the creative process.
By Timo Sillanpää Photos by Petteri Kivimäki