The
gateway to northern Finland
Life sparkles
in the far north
Life sparkles in the far north
WHILE it might be an exaggeration to describe Oulu as a `boom town´, the city is certainly experiencing some good times as the local economy goes from strenth to strength.
Not only is Oulu´s traditional forest products sector working flat out to meet the worldwide demand for paper, pulp and timber, but the city finds itself at the centre of a telecommunications industry that seemingly can do no wrong.
In fact, it is a sign of the times that, where forest products once dominated the business life of the region, today that position is occupied by Nokia, the Finnish telecommunications giant. This situation is best illustrated by the fact that, Nokia employs about six times as many people locally as the city´s only paper maker, Stora Enso, whereas only 10 years ago Veitsiluoto - as the company was then known - was all-important to the local economy.
High technology sectors
What is more, during the 1990s Oulu has become known internationally for its involvement on other high technology sectors besides telecommunications. This has been a deliberate policy on the part of Oulu City Council and today its reputation is no doupt enhanced by the cutting edge work undertaken by Oulu University and by the creation of Technopolis and Medipolis - the city´s advanced technology and medical research centries.
Technopolis, established in 1982, is a focus for the many new science based jobs in small start-up companies that have sprung up in and around Oulu. Technopolis is located at Linnanmaa to the north of city and directly alongside the E75 highway that links Jyväskylä with Utsjoki on the Finnish-Norwegian border.
The park comprises well over 150 companies, employing around 3,000 people, involved in either the design or the development of products associated with the telcommunications and electronics sectors. Altogether, more than 70 per cent of Oulu´s population now works in the service sector.
Oulu is Finland´s sixth largest city and easily the biggest in the north of the country. Moreover, it is the most populous city in northern Scandinavia. Oulu Airport, for example, is the fastest growing in Finland and is now the nations´second largest passenger gateway after Helsinki-Vantaa.
First class rail links
Excellent roar and rail links north, south and east also bolster Oulu´s position as the north´s premier business, transport and administrative centre. First-class rail services are available for both passengers and freight.
Outside the world of business, Oulu is very much an all-action city where the outdoor life is enjoyed to the full. Despite the tough winter weather conditions that come with living at 60 plus degrees north of the equator, local people enjoy themselves all year around.
Summer visitors can enjoy events such as the Oulu Marathon, the tar rowing festival, a 27-hole midnight golf competition, Finland´s largest annual showjumping meet and archery competitions. In winter there is the world´s longest ice fishing competition (a two-day event), a tar ski race (the world´s oldest non-stop long distance event) and even a Santa Claus dance contest.
If you can ignore the weather, then Oulu boast a quality of life that few cities in Europe can match, including uncongested roads, little or no pollution, low crime rates and spacious surroundings.
