Lappeenranta in brief

Lappeenranta was founded in 1649 and has today a population of 72 000 (2010).

Business activities

• c 3 200 companies  
• c 31 000 work places
• tax free sales second in Finland after Helsinki

Main business field

• wood processing
• information and communication technology
• service industries
• stone industry
• metallurgy
• engineering
• turism industry

Biggest employers

• City of Lappeenranta
• UPM-Kymmene Oyj (pulp, paper, research institute)
• South Karelian Hospital
• Lappeenranta University of Technology
• Paroc Oy Ab (insulation materials)
• Nordkalk Oyj Abp (cement and paper pigment)
• Fazer Makeiset Oy (confectionery)

Top products in development

• high technology metal structures
• chemical technology
• electronics
• information and communication technology

Traffic

• international airport
• Mustola freight harbor with connections to the Gulf of Finland through the Saimaa Canal
• border crossing: Nuijamaa (highway/by land), Vainikkala (railroad) and Lappeenranta International Airport

Education

• Lappeenranta University of Technology
• Saimaa University on Applied Sciences
• Army Academy
• Lappeenranta vocational school and college
• South Karelia Adult Education Centre
• Open university, academic professional development