Business Visit to Oulu

On April 9, a delegation of Latvian entrepreneurs went on a business visit to Oulu to promote cooperation with Finnish companies, research institutions, and municipal representatives. Oulu is a European Capital of Culture and a significant innovation hub.

The visit was organized by the Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Latvia, the Embassy of Finland in Riga, and BusinessOulu, with the participation of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The visit began with a meeting at the University of Oulu, where the delegation gained insight into high-level research projects and defense initiatives, including the development of 6G technologies and the activities of the NATO DIANA 6G testing center.

At the Oulu City Hall was held a meeting between Latvian entrepreneurs and the Mayor of Oulu, Ari Alatossava, along with the city’s leadership team. During a working lunch, participants discussed opportunities for economic cooperation, innovation support mechanisms, and regional development priorities. The discussion also involved representatives of the city council and municipality, experts from business support organizations, and the leadership of the Oulu Chamber of Commerce. Oulu’s role as a leading technology and research center in Northern Europe was particularly emphasized, especially in the field of information and communication technologies.

At the premises of BusinessOulu, the Latvian delegation explored a wide range of cooperation opportunities across various sectors. Presentations highlighted prospects in IT, dual-tech, the defense industry, health technologies, and green technologies. Special attention was given to the innovation ecosystem, business support instruments, and the development of international partnerships.

Matchmaking sessions and individual meetings generated particular interest among entrepreneurs, providing an opportunity for Latvian and Finnish company representatives to discuss specific collaboration projects and future prospects.

The visit to Oulu provided Latvian companies with a valuable opportunity to expand their network of contacts and identify new areas of cooperation, further supported by direct flights between Riga and Oulu—since April, this route has also been operated by airBaltic.

FCCL board member Kristaps Kvelde, CEO of Nordtext, after the visit said: "As I was listening to Ari Alatossava talking about the past, present and, most importantly, the future of Oulu, I could not stop admiring how much of a difference does it make when the city administration, educational sector and business community are all working together towards shared vision and goals. It was a truly inspirational visit and the overwhelming feedback from Latvian delegation was "we will definitely be returning"".

We thank all participants and organizers of the visit and look forward to long-term and successful cooperation!