Global Coalition on Aging, the Finnish Government and Esko Aho, Former Prime Minister of Finland Partnering for a Positive 21st-Century Healthy and Active Aging

The Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) – the global business voice on aging – is partnering with the Finnish Government and Esko Aho, former Prime Minister of Finland on 9-10 July 2019 in Helsinki, Finland for the inaugural global Silver Economy Forum on the opportunities of growing silver markets to achieve healthy and active aging.

The Forum will address how government and business work together to leverage the related mega-trends of longevity and global aging. The 1 billion people over 60 today – becoming 2 billion by mid-century – combined with the parallel transformational shift of more old than young everywhere, create a market opportunity for business that is enabled and enhanced by 21st-century public policy advances. Through the power of ideas, innovation, and strategic communications, the Silver Economy Forum will be the catalyst for re-imagining how business thinks about, treats, and values aging as one of the truly great market opportunities of our time. In the process, the Forum will move forward the global conversation about aging to align and become synonymous with sustainable economic growth and progress.

“As the third oldest population on the planet, we in Finland are acutely aware of the 21st-century age-demographic shift,” said Juha Sipilä, Prime Minister, Finland. “And while we know there are profound public policy changes across health, retirement and education policies, we are enthusiastic about the innovation coming from the private sector and top-level actors worldwide, therefore excited for the partnership on our unique global conference this July.  Healthy aging has a huge effect on our competitiveness and people’s wellbeing.  It is also why Finland is linking the Silver Economy to our EU Presidency.”

The high-level forum will be organized to feature the most successful business strategies and innovations designed to leverage and grow the global Silver Economy. “We will show the best workplace and workforce developments, where businesses are innovating new products and services and how insights about the 60-plus demographic can inform new business and marketing models,” said Michael W. Hodin, PhD, CEO of the Global Coalition on Aging.

With the unique combination of governments, global institutions, businesses, third-sector organizations and academia, the Forum is offering the most creative and progressive perspectives to ensure a positive approach to global aging.

“We will have shared value in action,” said Aho. “We are welcoming governments and business, designing a positive future for the 2 billion of us over 60, and, as a result, ensuring sustainability for all of society. Aging and longevity describe the situation, Silver Economy the opportunity, and our vision a new social contract based on our era’s possibility for a 100-year life as a matter of course.”

For more information, visit the Silver Economy Forum website or contact [email protected]