Hof radio visit to the twin town of Joensuu

One year before the 55th anniversary of the town twinning between Hof and Joensuu, a four-person delegation from Hof traveled to the Finnish twin town.

Led by Sabine Hager, Managing Director of extra-radio, the group visited the Joensuu radio station YLE and attended classes at the English-speaking Kanervalan School. The close connection between the two cities, which has existed since 1969, was further strengthened by this trip.

Sabine Hager, Managing Director of extra-radio: "According to the 'World Happiness Report 2024', Finland is the happiest nation in the world. Experts assume that the Finns are so happy because they are close to nature and down-to-earth and have a basic trust in the state and society. I can only confirm this after my visit."

During the five-day stay, numerous appointments were made, including an exchange with the German-Finnish association and a visit to a Rotary meeting where pennants were exchanged between the Rotary Clubs of Joensuu and Hof-Bayern. Seppo Tossavainen, responsible for business and external relations in Joensuu, presented a gift on behalf of the city of Joensuu and praised the town twinning. He emphasized that there should be a stronger focus on economic cooperation in the future.

The town twinning between Hof and Joensuu has a long history. It was founded in 1969, when both cities were in a geopolitically sensitive location near the Iron Curtain. Over the past decades, there have been numerous reciprocal visits, including the "Finnish Week" in Hof in 1980 and the "Hof Week" in Joensuu in 1984, during which citizens of both cities were able to get to know the culture and traditions of the other country.

There is still a close exchange between the two cities today. In 2019, Hof and Joensuu celebrated the 50th anniversary of their partnership with a big party. This relationship is a living sign of friendship and is being further intensified through the efforts of the German-Finnish Society and the Rotary Club Hof-Bayern. Regular economic and cultural exchanges will continue to play a key role in future cooperation.

The city of Hof presented the city of Joensuu with a "taste present", which offers an insight into Hof's culinary traditions. Hof was recently awarded again as "Genussort 2024", a recognition that honors the city for its unique cuisine and local specialties, such as the famous Hof beef sausage.

Photos (extra-radio): Meeting of the Rotary Club Joensuu with pennant presentation of the Rotary Club Hof-Bavaria and gift presentation City of Hof and City of Joensuu