The Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts replied to the interpellation concerning initiation of the bankruptcy proceedings of Kreenholm (No 534), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Eldar Efendijev, Nelli Privalova, Vladimir Velman, Mailis Reps, Valeri Korb, Lembit Kaljuvee and Lauri Laasi on 17 November.
The interpellators wished to know what the state had done for its part to find new investors for Kreenholm.
Parts stressed the aim of the state that this region suitable for industrial production, that is, Ida-Virumaa would attract new undertakings who have a well-considered action plan. In his words, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications is making efforts that the business potential that is in Estonia would not go unnoticed by investors. “We contribute to the development of Ida-Virumaa through enterprise programmes as well as public investments. For development of the industrial potential of Ida-Virumaa, the Foundation Ida-Virumaa Industrial Parks Development has been established which aims to bring new direct investments of the production and logistics sector to the region, by supplying industrial land with prepared infrastructure,” confirmed the Minister. He added that the foundation contributes to further development of the engineering, chemistry and metal working industry. According to the business plan, about 4400 new jobs will be created and 116 new enterprises will be started in Ida-Virumaa by 2019 as a result of the activities of the Foundation Ida-Virumaa Industrial Parks Development. The volume of direct investments amounts to 12 billion Estonian kroons (about 767 million euro). The foundation that has been established engages actively in marketing and finding new enterprises in Ida-Virumaa. It cooperates with several organisations, for example, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Enterprise Estonia, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, etc. Marketing activities have also been carried out simultaneously with preparation of the infrastructure.
In Parts’ words, the foundation has several ongoing projects in its portfolio. “At present, the customer portfolio of Ida-Virumaa Industrial Parks Development includes 18 enterprises with concrete plans to invest in Ida-Virumaa,” the Minister assessed the current situation. When speaking about the textile industry in connection with Kreenholm, Parts noted that, in the case of bankruptcy of Kreenholm or the bankruptcy of its remaining part, the main responsibility falls on the owners, the shareholders. At the same time, in no way does it mean that the textile industry has no perspective in Estonia. In the Minister’s opinion, efforts have to be made in order that the textile industry would be continued in Narva. The potential is there. Whether it will continue on the basis of the existing assets, that will depend largely on the trustee in bankruptcy and the principal creditors, said the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications.
Parts also replied to the interpellation concerning establishing of the guarantee fund of management companies (No 535), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Evelyn Sepp, Ester Tuiksoo, Lembit Kaljuvee, Eldar Efendijev, Olga Sõtnik and Valeri Korb on 17 November.
The Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi replied to the interpellation concerning catching of salmonidae during spawning time in Lääne-Virumaa (No 545), submitted by Members of Riigikogu Toomas Varek, Lembit Kaljuvee, Tiit Kuusmik, Valeri Korb, Mai Treial and Eldar Efendijev on 25 November.
The Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas replied to four interpellations. They were the following:
the interpellation concerning school violence (No 539), submitted by Members of Riigikogu Mailis Reps, Kalle Laanet, Eldar Efendijev, Nelli Privalova, Vladimir Velman, Olga Sõtnik, Nikolai Põdramägi and Evelyn Sepp on 17 November;
the interpellation concerning availability of pre-school education (No 554), submitted by Members of Riigikogu Olga Sõtnik, Toivo Tootsen, Kadri Simson, Ester Tuiksoo, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Mailis Reps, Inara Luigas, Eldar Efendijev, Vladimir Velman and Nelli Privalova on 15 December;
the interpellation concerning low cost of school lunch (No 555), submitted by Members of Riigikogu Kadri Simson, Ester Tuiksoo, Tiit Kuusmik, Valeri Korb, Lembit Kaljuvee, Toomas Varek, Georg Pelisaar, Mailis Reps, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev, Nelli Privalova, Vladimir Velman, Olga Sõtnik and Toivo Tootsen on 15 December;
the interpellation concerning education free of charge (No 556), submitted by Members of Riigikogu Mailis Reps, Toivo Tootsen, Tiit Kuusmik, Kalev Kallo and Aivar Riisalu on 16 December.
The Minister of Internal Affairs Marko Pomerants replied to two interpellations. They were the following:
the interpellation concerning the events in Padaorg and the Estonian Government’s inability to govern (No 552), submitted by Members of Riigikogu Kalle Laanet, Mai Treial, Mailis Reps, Ester Tuiksoo, Tiit Kuusmik, Nikolai Põdramägi, Helle Kalda, Lauri Laasi, Lembit Kaljuvee and Jüri Ratas on 13 December;
the interpellation concerning leaking of a state secret (No 560), submitted by Members of Riigikogu Kadri Simson, Marika Tuus, Heimar Lenk, Tiit Kuusmik, Lembit Kaljuvee, Helle Kalda, Georg Pelisaar, Mailis Reps, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev, Nelli Privalova, Vladimir Velman, Olga Sõtnik, Toivo Tootsen, Nikolai Põdramägi, Evelyn Sepp, Aivar Riisalu, Ester Tuiksoo and Valeri Korb on 23 December.
During the open microphone, Mai Treial and Ain Seppik took the floor.
The sitting ended at 6.50 p.m.
The Riigikogu Press Service