Business Information

22.10.2007

With a flat-rate income tax, a conservative budget policy, a currency board system, 100% profit repatriation and foreign ownership of land, Estonia is one of the most successful, business-friendly and rapidly developing countries not only in all of the Eastern and Central Europe, but in the community of nations as a whole.

Estonia is well positioned to become one of the major business hubs in the region. Free trade agreements with a number of countries, including the European Union, give goods produced in Estonia an access to a market of 600 million people. Membership in the World Trade Organisation is offering additional boost for the expansion of foreign trade. Estonia is currently in the process of membership negotiations with the European Union and is expected to achieve full membership among the first wave of new entrants in few years to come.

Following is the list of some useful Internet sites that cover the most important aspects of Estonia’s economy and by this can offer you some insight of what is like to participate in development of this rapidly expanding economy.

If you are considering Estonia as a location for investments, the web sites of Enterprise Estonia and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications would be your best resources. There you can find information on the investment climate in Estonia, economic reviews, investment statistics and other aspects that are important in the decision-making process involving capital allocations.

To give you information about Estonia's trade regime and Customs Act, the web site of the Estonian Customs Board is available for you.

A good source of statistics on Estonian exports and imports is maintained by the Office of Statistics. They can also reply to your specific requests of information and statistics not found on the site.

Reports on Estonian banking system and monetary policy framework, the latest statistics on the Estonian economy and chronicle of banking and monetary events are available on Bank of Estonia web site.

If you are interested in finding trading partners that could be your suppliers, distributors or retail agents, the Enterprise Estonia, Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Estonian Trade Council, Estonian Society of Merchants or the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Estonia are the most valuable sources of contacts for you.

A list of sector specific Estonian business associations and unions (Clothing and Textile Association, Federation of Engineering Industries, The Estonian Woodworking
Federation, Association of Informationtechnology and Telecommunication Companies etc.) can be found here.

A good resource of Estonian exporting companies is the Estonian Export Directory. There are also some relatively comprehensive sector specific catalogues available in Internet, check them out too: Estonian Furniture Directory, Estonian Timberhouse Industry, Estonian Engineering Industry, Estonian Textile Guide, Estonian Logistics.

Of course you may also find partners at the exhibitions. The exhibitions and fairs held at the Estonian Fairs' Center have a firm position in international fair calendars. The Estonian fair culture is internationally respected and the exhibitions held in Estonia are attractive to numerous foreign companies and visitors.

To run searches for companies in Estonia based on name or field of activity, try the Estonian version of the Yellow Pages or the Infoatlas.

In order to start trading in securities listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange (TSE) enter the TSE’s web site, where you can find information regarding listed securities, relevant rules and regulations, contact information of TSE’s member firms, online trading information etc.

For any further questions please contact the Commercial section of the Embassy:

E-mail: info@estemb.se
Tel. 08-5451 22 80
Fax. 08-5451 22 99

Post address:
Estonian Embassy in Stockholm
Box 26076
10041 Stockholm
Sweden

Or the Enterprise Estonia Stockholm Office:

Mr. Krister Kalda
Enterprise Estonia Stockholm Office
Wallingatan 32
111 24 Stockholm
e-mail: stockholm@eas.ee
Tel 08 23 60 18
Fax 08 44 22 080
http://www.investinestonia.com