The development company GVA Sawyer has started physical work on the site, having started the construction of the first stage of the outlet center as part of a large-scale project Kotka. Old port» in Finland. Currently, the dismantling of large warehouse buildings located on the site is being completed, and the transfer of engineering networks has begun. The opening of the outlet center is scheduled for the end of 2019. The volume of investments will be approximately 56 million euros.

«Kotka. The Old port»   the largest project of integrated development of the territory, which will be implemented on the territory of the old port of Kotka, on a plot of 20 hectares. Within the framework of the project, it is planned to build a designer outlet center, hotel complexes, a residential complex with its own infrastructure, retail premises of the big box format, a cinema, a children's entertainment center, a walking area with restaurants and bars. The project acquired the status of a public-private partnership and became even more significant after the decision was made to include a new technical University of applied Sciences in the south-east of Finland and an arena for sports, exhibitions and entertainment events, the construction of which will be financed by the city. These elements will be built by 2020.

The project will be implemented in several stages. In September, the construction of the outlet center began, the total area of the 1st phase will be about 20 thousand square meters. "We are pleased that we are at a stage where everyone can see the project moving forward. Years of work on an architectural project, engineering issues, marketing, market research, obtaining permits have now finally led us to the possibility of conducting physical work that everyone can see,"commented Cameron Sawyer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GVA Sawyer, which is the developer of the project.

"Dozens of well-known European brands have already confirmed their presence in Finland's first outlet center. Urban environment and other advantages of the location of the outlet «Kotka. The old port", as well as the complete absence of modern outlet shopping in the country, created the ground for local and international interest in the project. Among the interested tenants are such Italian brands as Missoni, Versace Jeans, Loriblu, Basile, Marville, John Ashfield, Caleffi, Baldinini, Cavalli Class, – added Vera Setskaya, President of GVA Sawyer.

The city of Kotka is located just 60 kilometers from the border with Russia and 270 kilometers from St. Petersburg.

The first stage of construction will be completed by the end of 2019 with the opening of 80–90 stores as part of an outlet center, several restaurants and the first hotel.