www.kotka.fiBeing one of the sea ports of the Eastern Baltic Sea, Kotka is located on two islands in the delta of Kymi river flowing into the Gulf of Finland. It was granted city rights in 1878. Currently the population of Kotka is 54 622. It is the beautiful island of Haapasaari that is the symbol of the city. The Finnish word "kotka" means eagle. Kotka developed in 19th century as a result of immigration comparable to the American gold rush. What made the territory of the present city so attractive to settlers was timber industry, which was quickly developing thanks to excellent conditions for establishing sawmills. Although Kotka is a young city, its historical heritage dates back to the Viking period. Currently, the city of Kotka is country's largest export port. Timber and food industry, metal, glass and shipping industry constitute the basis of city economy. In the city there is Kotka Industrial Park located on the island of Mussalo, 5 kilometers from the city centre. The cooperation between the cities of Kotka and Gdynia started already in 1961. However, the cooperation agreement was signed on 9th March 1988. It covers cooperation in the field of administration, education, sport and tourism. Up till now the cooperation has been carried out actively mainly in the fields of education and sport. The effects of the cooperation:contacts between two elementary schools in Gdynia (No 16 and 35) and the youth in Kotka scientific and educational cooperation between the Maritime Academy in Gdynia and Kotka Polytechnic multiple participation of the musical groups from Gdynia in the Annual Festival of Maritime Music in Kotka ( for example a musical group "Mechanicy Szanty " won the first prize three times) participation of the representatives of Gdynia in the conference organized in Kotka on the subject of the logistics of ports. The City Hall of Kotka was the organizer of the first conference "Logistics and the ports". The conference had as its aim the development of Baltic ports, ferry shipping, tightening the cooperation between the ports of the Baltic states, joint marketing the representatives of both cities participated for the fourth time in the Finnish- Polish Twin Cities Conference in Opole- October 1996 the representatives of Kotka visited the Kaszuby Fair '98 as observers participation of the city of Kotka in the Tourist Kaszuby Fair '99 in Gdynia- February 1999 participation of the representatives of Gdynia and Kotka in the Finnish- Polish Twin Cities Conference in Seinajoki, combined with a visit to Kotka- April 1999 visit of the representatives of Gdynia to the Maritime Festival in Kotka- July 1999 visit of the representatives of Gdynia to Kotka during "Days of Kotka" - May 2000 visit of the representatives of Gdynia to the Maritime Festival in Kotka- July 2001 promotional materials about Gdynia were presented on a stand during the exhibition of the Twin Cities which took place in the course of the Maritime Festival in Kotka- July 2001 participation of the youth from Kotka in the 12th Twin Cities Sporting Competition in Gdynia - April/May 2004 visit of the representatives of Gdynia to the Maritime Festival in Kotka - July 2004 participation of Gdynia City Counil representatives in the Maritime Festival in Kotka - July 2005 participation of the official Kotka delegation in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of granting Gdynia city rights - February 2006participation of Gdynia City Council representatives in the Maritime Festival in Kotka - July 2006participation of Gdynia delegation in the Maritime Festival connected with The Tall Ships' Races 2007 - July 2007visit of Kotka official delegation to Gdynia - April 2008participation of Gdynia representatives in the opening ceremony of Vellamo Centre in Kotka - July 2008participation of Gdynia official delegation in the Maritime Festival in Kotka - July 2009visit of Kotka representatives on the occasion of "The Tall Ships' Races 2009" - July 2009visit of Kotka delegation aimed at discussing the programme of the 50th anniversary of the twinning cooperation - December 2010participation of Gdynia representatives in the Maritime Festival in Kotka - July 2011 visit of Kotka representatives to Gdynia in connection with the 50th anniversary of cooperation between twin cities - September 2011concert of the male choir from Kotka in the City Theatre in Gdynia - September 2011participation of Gdynia delegation in the 50th Maritime Festival in Kotka - July 2012participation of Gdynia delegation in the Maritime Festival in Kotka - July 2013 Opublikowano: 14.11.2006 00:00 Autor: Małgorzata Aleksiak