Kokkola is one of the most attractive green transition investment destinations. The investments planned for Kokkola and the new jobs they are expected to create in the region will place the city at the forefront of ambitious growth targets.
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Finland would benefit from a national infrastructure fund that supports the competitiveness and attractiveness of Finnish industrial areas as investment destinations.
Kokkola’s goal is that the fund, established in cooperation with the Finnish government and industry, would invest in the development of industrial infrastructure in large-scale industrial areas as well as also provide loans for investment projects and to regional industrial infrastructure companies.
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Objective:
Establishing a national infrastructure fund that supports the competitiveness and attractiveness of Finnish industrial areas as investment destinations.
Measure:
Industrial infrastructure components are strategically crucial for ensuring production continuity and competitiveness. This infrastructure includes, among other things, roads, railroads, industrial ports and port machinery of large-scale industrial areas, and pipe bridges, electricity, steam, heat and data networks, energy production, land areas, water supply lines and sewage, water intake plants and water treatment plants, access control systems, as well as fire and emergency services systems and equipment.
Industrial infrastructure investments can be accelerated by establishing a national industrial infrastructure fund. This fund, to be established in collaboration between the government and industrial sector, would invest in the industrial infrastructure of large-scale industrial areas and provide financing both for infrastructure-related investment projects and for regional industrial infrastructure companies.
Advocacy target:
- Members of the Parliament of Finland, the Government
Schedule:
- Immediately
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During 2020–2030, the Kokkola city group will invest over 250 million euros in critical infrastructure. These include:
- KIP Infra (investments of 30.8 million euros, e.g. railway to Kokkola Industrial Park area, sewer network and dredging)
- Port of Kokkola (investments of 45.2 million euros, e.g. KIP & Kokkola South)
- Kokkolan Vesi (investments of 40 million euros, e.g. water treatment plants, network renovations and new construction projects)
- Kokkolan Energiaverkot (investments of 37 million euros, e.g. expansion and renovation of electrical grid connections)
- Kokkolan Energia (investments of 52 million euros)
- Industrial water treatment (investments of 40 million euros, new water treatment plant)
- Kokkola South (investments of 11.5 million euros, e.g. connecting road to the port and branch line)
Advocacy ensures that the Finnish government is involved in financing key infrastructure projects that support industry.
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Objective:
Competitive large-scale industrial areas in Kokkola (KIP and Kokkola South).
Measure:
Group companies have identified key areas for infrastructure development to ensure the future competitiveness of large-scale industrial areas.
The purpose of these advocacy efforts is to secure Government funding for critical infrastructure projects that support the industry in Kokkola.
Advocacy target:
- Ministries and other potential investors
Schedule:
- 2024–2029
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The goal is to ensure smooth cooperation, information sharing and open dialogue between local and government Invest in Finland operators. The alignment of the cities’ own Invest in Finland operational models with the industrial policy strategy and the national framework for promoting investments will be carefully examined.
In Kokkola’s own Invest in operating model, preparations are made for new investments in the region from a land use perspective, availability of skilled labor, and communications and regional marketing.
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Objective:
Cities are active partners in national Invest in activities.
Measure:
One of the key objectives of the industrial policy strategy is to attract investments to Finland that will strengthen Finland’s industrial foundation. The investment task force, proposed in the strategy, is tasked to develop a comprehensive operational model for promoting industrial investments.
In developing the operational model, it is important to consider the cities’ own Invest in frameworks, which are help to prepare for the localization investments from the perspective of land use planning, availability of skilled labor, communication, and regional marketing.
Going forward, it is essential to ensure effective information sharing, seamless cooperation, and open dialogue between local and government Invest in operators.
Schedule:
- Immediately
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Finland recognizes that regional air traffic is essential for its economic growth and for facilitating exports, and for ensuring security of supply, health care and military mobility.
Ensuring the coverage of Finavia’s current airport network and maintaining air traffic at regional airports, and ensuring that the Transport 12 plan for 2026–2037 does not include entries that would jeopardize the role of the current regional airports.
In its mid-term policy review session in 2025, the Finnish Government has agreed on exercising the option. Flights from Kokkola-Pietarsaari airport will continue until spring 2028.
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Objective:
Ensuring the coverage of Finavia’s current airport network and maintaining air traffic at regional airports.
Measure:
The airport network plays an important role in Finland’s economic growth and in facilitating exports. Its strategic importance, in the context of global competition, has only increased. Moreover, a diverse airport network is essential for ensuring security of supply, and health care and military mobility. With 71 percent of Finland’s exports originating from areas covered by the regional airports, the core function of regional airports is not domestic travel, but rather to ensure fast international access for businesses and skilled professionals.
Ensuring that the Transport 12 plan for 2026–2037 does not include entries that would jeopardize the role of the current regional airports.
Schedule:
- Immediately
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Finnish business and industry are dependent on the functionality and availability of maritime transport. Fairway dues burden the competitiveness of Finnish maritime logistics.
Kokkola’s goal is that the Government’s proposal on halving fairway dues will be implemented. The long-term goal is to remove these fees completely.
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Objective:
Eliminating national tax-like charges, such as fairway dues, that impose financial burdens on industries dependent on maritime transport.
Measure:
The Finnish business sector and industry are dependent on the functionality and availability of maritime transport. Fairway dues burden the competitiveness of Finnish maritime logistics. The Government’s proposal to permanently halve fairway dues is a step in the right direction and a commendable measure. In the context of long-term policy planning, the complete elimination of fairway dues should remain a viable option.
Schedule:
- Immediately