Significant investments in the Oulu region

Several major investment projects will be implemented in the Oulu region in the next few years, opening various opportunities for local companies.

The Oulu airport is expanding and developing

The Oulu airport is being expanded, and enhanced passenger services will be introduced by the end of  2011. The airport will feature modern, spacious, well-lit premises with an expanded security check area, passenger piers – i.e. gate boarding –, better restaurant, café and shopping offerings and more parking space.

The expansion will comprise a total of 6,500 square metres and the new premises will be inaugurated in August or September. The expansion will nearly double the airport's capacity from the current capacity of 800,000 passengers to 1.5 million passengers per year.

Oulu city centre development

The Oulu city centre comprises three districts: Raksila, downtown and Market Square. The City of Oulu has stated that one of its strategic goals is developing the city centre into an active, attractive area. The development project includes such measures as constructing an underground parking space.

Ritaportti shopping centre

A new shopping centre, with approximately 100 shops will be constructed in the Ritaharju district of Oulu. City planning for this project is currently underway. According to the preliminary schedule, construction work will commence in 2013, the first stage of the shopping centre will be opened for customers in 2014 and the entire project should be completed by 2018.

Nuclear power plant investmenti

Fennovoima's nuclear power plant investment will be implemented in Simo or Pyhäjoki. The Finnish parliament has made a decision in principle concerning the investment, and the final location will be decided in June 2011. The construction of the nuclear power plant will take 8–9 years, followed by the operating period of 60–80 years and demolition period of 10 years. All in all, this is a project of a decade.