President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb visited Oulu and Kemi on Wednesday 23 October 2024.
In the morning, the President attended the inauguration of the new Oulu University Hospital and gave a speech at the ceremony. In his speech, the President highlighted the technological expertise of the people of Oulu and the professionalism of the hospital’s staff. “The new hospital aims to be the smartest hospital in the world by 2030. This is an excellent goal.”
However, the President said that technology alone cannot create the best medical care in the world. “At the heart of care of people, all the healthcare professionals who do the valuable work. Human interaction, warmth and caring cannot be replaced by technology”.
During lunch, President Stubb met with representatives of the City of Oulu and Oulu-based technology companies to discuss the importance of transport infrastructure to overall security and potential investments. The discussion also focused on Oulu’s strong technological expertise, for which NATO membership opens up new opportunities for growth.
After lunch, President Stubb was interviewed by two members of the local youth council in the Valkea shopping centre. During the well-attended public event, questions to the President ranged from the well-being of young people to foreign and security policy.
In the afternoon, the President travelled to Kemi, where he inaugurated Metsä Group’s new bioproduct mill. In his speech, the President emphasised the Finnish forest industry’s capacity for renewal: “I am optimistic and I believe that a project like this is as a good example of how our industry can be renewed. I hope to see more investments like this in the coming years, creating economic growth and jobs.” The President noted that the mill is fossil-free and self-sufficient in electricity, producing electricity for its own use as well as for the national grid.
The employment impact of the mill throughout the value chain is 3,000 people.
