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iltakuva Kokkolan suurteollisuusalueesta
Hannu-Pekka Pukema

Ensuring competitiveness

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.