RUS in Haparanda: "We don't have chimneys in the middle of town - we have other values"  

Next up on our RUS tour was Haparanda municipality! On Thursday, March 21st, 36 people gathered at Folkets hus in Haparanda to discuss the future of the municipality and Norrbotten. The conversation touched on problems such as loss of residents and high youth unemployment, but also the potential in culture, agriculture and cross-border trade.  

Municipal councilor Nina Waara was on site and talked about some of Haparanda's challenges and opportunities. She mentioned the negative population trend as the biggest challenge for Haparanda's development. If this trend is to be reversed, 20-40 year olds are the most important target group.  

Waara also pointed out the importance of focusing on children and young people. Many do not complete primary school. 

“If you can do well in school, you can do well in jobs,” she said, emphasizing that study and career counselors have an important role in schools.  

Unemployment in Haparanda is 3,4 percent, and youth unemployment is the highest in the county. This is related to school results.

“I wouldn't have had IKEA”  

The proximity to the Finnish border brings both opportunities and challenges, said Nina Waara. The border brings with it smuggling but also cross-border trade, which contributes to growth and jobs. 

– We wouldn't have had IKEA and other major investments if it weren't for our geographical location.  

The retail store Jula is currently planning its expansion to Haparanda, which will create approximately 100 new jobs. The tourism industry has grown in recent years and Haparanda today receives visitors from all over Europe and even Asia.  

“Don't copy others”

The municipality currently has low electricity capacity and would not be able to accommodate large industrial establishments. But that doesn't have to be a bad thing, said Jimmy Henriksson from Haparanda Municipality's technical administration. 

– We have something different, we don't have chimneys standing in the middle of town. We don't have black snow. We have other values. Maybe we don't need to copy the other municipalities, but think a little bit, he said. 

Another such value is agriculture. Haparanda has a large supply of arable land and sees great development potential here. 

“The opportunity to grow and get locally grown food also provides quality of life and security. It is an untapped potential,” said Pia Hulkoff, local politician for the Healthcare Party. 

Want to see a Barents Institute

The need to strengthen the cultural sector was also discussed. Freelance journalist and photographer Kenneth Mikko wants to use Haparanda's strategic location and establish a Barents Institute to strengthen and further develop culture in the Arctic. 

– We need to look outwards. We have a strategic location. There is a study on cultural life that can be the basis for further work going forward.  

Pia Marttinen, cultural developer at Haparanda Municipality, wants to promote the culture that already exists locally. 

– We don't have the big arenas, but we have the vocational college, the clubs, the cultural school. 

“Look up”

The participants also saw potential in the proximity to two universities, Luleå and Oulu, the proximity to nature, the presence of several government agencies and Haparanda as a future transport hub. 

– We need to get better at looking up and seeing what we have, said Nina Waara.  

Here is the report from the RUS dialogue in Haparanda