Foreign Affairs Committee got an overview of the targets of Enterprise Estonia’s foreign economic activities
At its today’s sitting, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) continued the hearings on the foreign economic policy of Estonia, and the activities of Enterprise Estonia in attracting foreign investments to the country and supporting of export.
Chairman of the Committee Marko Mihkelson emphasised that foreign economic policy was one of the two most important priorities of the Estonian foreign policy, and needed more attention at the moment as it had remained in the shadow of security policy.
“Considering how much the Estonian economy depends on export, it is essential that the state contributed to helping our companies be more successful in international competition, and making it possible to create more better-salaried jobs in Estonia on the basis of foreign capital,” Mihkelson said.
In Mihkelson’s opinion, it is necessary for more successful development of foreign economy to formulate a clearer strategy for export and foreign investments, and improve political leadership and the cooperation of Enterprise Estonia with the ministries. Therefore the Committee will hold a round table with the participation of ministers and business organisations at the beginning of the next year.
In the opinion of member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Oudekki Loone, Enterprise Estonia should be more proactive in creating demand and offer greater analytical support in order to guarantee information, and if necessary, also practical help for entering new markets for the companies with export potential.
Mihkelson said that it was also necessary to continue with developing the network of foreign representations, for example, in the Gulf region, North America and South Korea. Member of the Committee Eerik-Niiles Kross added that the Estonian entrepreneurs were interested in Africa, too. In Loone’s opinion it is necessary to give attention to South America as well.
At today’s sitting of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Board Alo Ivask, Director of Trade Development Agency Tanel Rebane and Director of Estonian Investment Agency Allan Selirand gave an overview of the activities of Enterprise Estonia.
Riigikogu Press Service
Epp-Mare Kukemelk
+372 631 6356, +372 51 53 903
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]
