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International transport corridors in Northern Finland
Regional Councilof Lapland
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Background
Northern Finland has several different transport and traffic corridors, the development of which is promoted by numerous parties
• Resources are spent on partly overlapping undertakings
• The same corridor receives parallel promotion under different names
• This conveys a vague image of the needs and opportunities of the corridors
• With each party advocating only for the development of its own traffic corridors, the likelihood of resource allocation to corridor development decreases
Need for cooperation and shared vision
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Aims of the project
The most important aim is for the operators in Northern Finland to arrive at a shared vision of the region’s international traffic corridors and the names of these
To compile information on the traffic corridors
To enable the prioritization of corridors
To formulate a consistent view of the corridors
Aims
Regional plans
Studies
Plans
Interviews with business and the authorities
Material
International traffic corridors in Northern Finland
Overall view of the international traffic corridors in Northern Finland
Views on and reasoning for prioritization of corridors
Programming of further efforts
Agreement on the commencement of lobbying and the preparation of lobbying materials
Outcomes
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Steering group
Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, chair Regional Council of Lapland Joint Authority of Kainuu Region Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia Oulu road district Lapland road district Finnish Rail Administration (RHK) MINTC Oulu Chamber of Commerce Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce Lapland Chamber of Commerce Port of Oulu / ports in the Bothnian Bay Finavia
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Northern Finland and the Barents region
Northern Finland Finland Barents region
Population 722,800 5,300,500 5,600,000 (in 2005)
Area 165,800 km2 335,420 km2 1,755,800 km2
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Traffic and transportation on main roads
Source: Finnra
Average daily traffic 2006 (vehicles par day)
Heavy goods transport
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Goods and passenger streams in rail traffic
Source: RHK
Kouvola local region
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Sea and air traffic
Sea traffic There are six important cargo ports in Northern Finland Much regular international scheduled traffic Based mainly on industry’s heavy streams of goods Foreign sea cargo handled by the ports in Northern Finland totalled 16.8
million tonnes in 2007 (= 16% of all sea cargo between Finland and foreign countries)
Air traffic There is scheduled service to nine airports in Northern Finland Most international service is operated via Helsinki International Airport Oulu−Riga and in autumn, Stockholm−Kittilä Numerous tourism-related charter flights Air cargo operations
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Future outlook
Metal industry Important industry in Finland, Sweden and the Murmansk region The future outlook is bright due to e.g. the development of the
Barents region: Outokumpu, for example, will invest hundreds of millions of euro in the near future
Forest industry Important industry in Finland, Sweden and Russia except for the
Murmansk region Russian wood duties, restructuring in the forest industry and
climate change give rise to uncertainty, yet the industry will retain its strong position also in the future
Bioenergy utilization opens up new possibilities for the industry
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Future outlook
Tourism Important industry in Finland, Sweden and Norway Considerable increase expected in the number of foreign tourists Substantial investments being planned in Northern Finland
Oil and gas industry Important industry in Norway and Russia Some of the world’s largest natural gas and oil fields are located
in the Barents region, e.g. Shtokman ja Snøhvit The focus is shifting from the Norwegian Sea to the Barents Sea
Murmansk region The region will seen intense development in the near future Planned investments (excl. investments in the oil and gas
industry) > EUR 20 billion
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Mining industry
Source: MEE
Important industry in Sweden, Russia and also Finland
The Barents region has vast mineral resources
The many mine projects being planned in Northern Finland will increase transportation volumes many times over when implemented.
Opening new mines requires improvement of the existing infrastructure
Talvivaara deliveries via the Kokkola port and potential Pajala-Kolari (initial stage) deliveries via the Kemi port
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Barents Arc – international traffic corridors in Northern Finland
The Barents Arc is made up of several linked traffic corridors Barents Link Murmansk Link Bothnian Link Narvik Link
A natural complement to the whole consisting of the EU Northern Axis – Motorway of the Baltic Sea
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Bothnian Link
Finland’s main line – connects the Northern Axis with the Northern Triangle
Most important sources of traffic growth potential
Growth in industry and other businesses in Western and Northern Finland
New mine projects in Northern Finland and Northern Sweden
Russian transit traffic Increase in rail passenger
volumes Development of the corridor will
enable growth for the region’s industry and other businesses
Barents Arc
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Barents / Narvik Link
Part of the Northern Axis corridor defined by the EU on 31 January 2007
Connects the Nordic countries to northwest Russia and onward to the Far East
Major sources of traffic growth potential
Russian transit traffic In the long run, increase in
cargo traffic between Asia, Europe and North America
Development of the corridor boosts the potential for trade between the Nordic countries and Russia
Barents Arc
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Murmansk Link
Connects northwest Russia to the Nordic countries and is a natural extension of the Motorway of the Baltic Sea
Major sources of traffic growth potential
Intense development in southwest Russia
New mine projects in eastern Lapland
Opening of the Northeast Passage
Development of the corridor enhances the potential for Nordic operators to participate in the major projects in southwest Russia
Barents Arc
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Motorways of the Baltic Sea
Connects the Nordic countries to Central and Western Europe
80% of Finland’s foreign trade via the corridor
Major sources of traffic growth potential
New mine projects in Northern Finland and Northern Sweden
Development of industry and other businesses
Strong growth in the Russian economy and cargo transportation (transit traffic)
Development of sea connections improves the functioning and cost-effectiveness of multimodal transportation chains
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Air corridors in Northern Finland
Fast and efficient air service meeting the needs of business and tourism in the Barents region is key
Major sources of traffic growth potential Sharply rising numbers of tourists Development and internationalization of the economy of the Barents
region Development of charter flights and increase in direct, regular service
sought Transverse service in the Barents region Moscow and St Petersburg Stockholm and Copenhagen
Enhanced air service can compensate for long distances and also respond to the needs of increasing tourism and the developing Barents region
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Future challenges and opportunities
Opportunities in Northern Finland New mine projects Development of industry and other businesses Intense development in the region of northwest Russia Increase in tourism Opening of the Northeast Passage
Challenges in Northern Finland Availability of skilled labour Development of infrastructure Development of cooperation Climate change
The main goal for the near future is to make the Barents Arc or parts of it an EU TEN-T priority project and to continue developing cooperation in the Barents region