Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia Region, Finland

🇫🇮 Kokkola is a town and municipality of Finland. The town is located in the Central Ostrobothnia region. Neighbour municipalities are Halsua, Kalajoki, Kannus, Kaustinen, Kronoby, Lestijärvi, Larsmo and Toholampi.

Economy Kokkola is the capital and biggest city in the region of Central Ostrobothnia. The chemical industry is a major employer. An industrial area and the city's port are located in Ykspihlaja. OMG has a cobalt plant. The Freeport/Umicore refinery is the only large cobalt refinery outside China. Boliden has a zinc plant. Kemira, a chemical conglomerate, built an industrial park that is now divided among several corporations. In addition, industries represented in the town include metalworking, casting, textiles, plastics, food and carpentry.

Largest employers: • The city of Kokkola approx.; • Central Ostrobothnian Joint Municipal Authority for Social and Health Services (Soite); • Boliden Kokkola Oy (zinc); • Umicore (was Freeport Cobalt Oy until 2019) (cobalt); • KPO group (retail); • Halpa-Halli (retail); • CABB Oy (fine chemicals).

The Port of Kokkola is located in Ykspihlaja, approximately 5 km (3 mi) from the city centre, and it is one of the busiest ports in Finland. Oil, ore and limestone are imported, refined products and timber are exported, and iron ore is transited.

The Chydenia Shopping Center, completed in 2006, is located in the centre of Kokkola; about 2 million people visit at the shopping centre every year.

Transport Kokkola is located on the coast of Gulf of Bothnia, and the coastal European route E8 (Finnish highway 8) goes through, connecting Oulu and Turku via Vaasa. Finnish highway 28 begins from Kokkola and runs to Kajaani. Finnish highway 13 begins from Kokkola and runs through Finland into the Nuijamaa border to Russia crossing via Jyväskylä and Mikkeli. The scenic '7 Bridges Archipelago Road' (road 749) runs along the coast between Kokkola and Jakobstad (Finnish: Pietarsaari). Kokkola-Pietarsaari Airport is situated 22 km (14 mi) from Kokkola in Kronoby. The Kokkola railway station is a stop along the Seinäjoki–Oulu railway, with service between Helsinki and Kemijärvi via Tampere and Seinäjoki, where the fast Pendolino bullet train operates. There is no passenger ferry traffic from Kokkola.