Finland is a member of the European Union and its currency is Euro. The two counties, Oulu Region and Kainuu in Northern Finland, are comprised of 38 municipalities and a total land area of some 60,000 sq. km. The area has a population of nearly 500,000 (2017). Major cities are Oulu, Kajaani and Kuusamo.

Northern Finland is famous for tourism, forest industry, clean tech, ICT start-ups and health care technology. It has strong agricultural, mining and steel industries as well as log and wooden house industry.

Oulu Airport is the second biggest in Finland. There are international charter flights to and from all three airports in the region, Oulu, Kuusamo and Kajaani. There is a major harbor in the Gulf of Bothnia in Northern Scandinavia.There are frequent cultural events in the area.

The most attractive touristic areas in Oulu regionare Ruka in Kuusamo – Gateway to Lapland, the southernmost fell Syöte in Pudasjärvi, UNESCO Global Geopark of Rokua and in Kainuu Vuokatti Resort, the Hossa National Park which was established in 2017 and the eastern border wilderness area of Kuhmo and Suomussalmi.