Estonia, Investments, Transport

The largest grants to be allocated this year for increasing the export capacity of Estonian companies were MEEK 1.5 and the smallest was MEEK 0.24. The fields of business of the companies that were supported varied a great deal: software development, high-technology products, medical equipment, special design works, and timber houses. The target markets are Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain, the USA, Russia, Belarus and Scandinavia.

According to Allar Korjas, Director of the Export Division of Enterprise Estonia, the interest of entrepreneurs towards the export marketing grant is great, just as anticipated. “In three months, 30 applications with a total amount of MEEK 39.40 have been submitted. This year, the budget for the export marketing grant is MEEK 56, so I encourage companies to come and get acquainted with the opportunities of the grant programme,” said Korjas.

The grants will be provided on the basis of the marketing activities plan compiled by entrepreneurs. “A well elaborated action plan yields much better results. In order to prepare an export plan, we also request preliminary counselling from the consultants of Enterprise Estonia,” said Korjas.

The purpose of the Export Marketing Programme 2007-2013, co-funded from the European Regional Development Fund, is to increase the competitiveness of Estonian companies on foreign markets via planned and integral supporting of marketing activities.

Within the framework of the support programme, entrepreneurs can apply for support for an export marketing project that lasts for 12-24 months, to enter with their product or service into a new market. As new activities, the bringing of products into conformity with the requirements of the export market, the preparation of product samples, the elaboration of product or service brands and the registration of trademarks in a foreign country are supported. Of current activities, the visiting of target markets, market studies, organisation of marketing activities in both foreign countries and Estonia, and participation in foreign trade shows aimed at target markets, are still being supported. The total volume of the support programme lasting until 2013 is more than MEEK 400.

The maximum amount of the grants applied for is MEEK 1.5 per project. The limit of the grant is up to 50% of eligible costs; the rest of the costs must be funded by the entrepreneur themselves. Support can be applied for by both operating and newly starting exporters, regardless of the size of the company. More information on the application process is available on the web page www.eas.ee/eksporditurundus.

Enterprise Estonia, established in 2000, is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and regional policy in Estonia. Enterprise Estonia is actively engaged in the following fields: support of new sustainable companies, increase of the export capacity and product development capacity of Estonian companies, involvement of foreign direct investments in the Estonian economy, increase of tourism export and local tourism, and the promotion of regional development and a civil society.

As at 04.06.2008, the following projects have been funded from the Export Marketing Programme:

• The main fields of business of Boxer Timber Group OÜ (www.boxer.ee) are the manufacturing and sales of milled beam garden houses. Grant: MEEK 1.5.

• The main field of business of AS Neoqi (www.neoqi.ee) is the development and manufacturing of innovative body treatment equipment or energy cocoons. Grant: MEEK 1.46.

• KFP Development OÜ (www.kfpsalsa.de) is an economic software development company focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises and public sector institutions. Grant: MEEK 1.31.

• The main field of business of Ideab Project Eesti AS (www.ideabpro.ee) is the elaboration of engineering solutions for technically complex construction sites. Grant: MEEK 1.48.

• OÜ Nutiteq (www.nutiteq.com) is developing a software platform for using various map solutions in mobile phones. Grant: MEEK 0.24.

• AS LDIAMON (www.ldiamon.eu) is a high technology company aimed at introducing products to the market, which help to increase the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic renal insufficiency. Grant: MEEK 1.2.