Invest in www.investinvoru.com Võru County Contents Foreword 3 Estonia is a country of modern solutions 4 Liberal enterprise policy promoting investments 5 Võru County – connecting 3 countries 6 Qualified workforce 8 Support services for investors 10 Wood and furniture industry 12 Food industry 14 Metal and machinery industry 16 Logistic possibilities 18 Plastics industry 20 Light industry 22 Invest in Võru County 23 Võrusoo industrial area 24 Misso industrial area 26 Väimela industrial area 28 Kobela industrial area 30 Vastseliina industrial area 32 Rõuge industrial area 34 Võru County – a place for living and resting 36 This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the Estonia – Latvia – Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument of 2007 – 2013. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of Võru Maavalitsus and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the Programme, countries participating in the Programme, or the European Union. part-nanced by the European Union The Estonia – Latvia – Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument of 2007- 2013 financially supports joint cross-border development activities for the improvement of the region’s competitiveness by utilising its potential and beneficial location on the crossroads between the EU and Russian Federation. The Programme’s web-site is www.estlatrus.eu. The project is titled “Fostering Socio-economic Development and Encouraging Business in Border Areas” The project partner and beneficiary is Võru Maavalitsus Contact person: Mihkel Värton Phone: +372 502 5936 E-mail: [email protected] Compiler/designer: (Why OÜ) Foreword www.koda.ee/en stonia is a small and flexible country. Our County. Estonia could become a country that E business environment is often set as an is open to foreign investors, so the latter would example, and our entrepreneurs are doing well in be able to operate well and not be restricted by exporting. During the last decade the latter have their location in a certain municipality or county. learned how to manage business both during There are great many diligent and ambitious times of rapid economic growth and during a entrepreneurs in Võru County, who have done recession. and will do a lot for this area. This should As a company manager, I see that our business encourage new entrepreneurs to take an interest environment could become even more open, in the area because the conditions for successful friendly and stable than it already is. I meet a development are already provided. number of entrepreneurs and foreign investors daily. There is a great interest in Estonia, but we I encourage investors to discover Võru County have to make an effort to get actual progress. and wish a thriving growth of prosperity to all Nothing just happens. We have to make our current and future entrepreneurs! environment even more attractive to foreign investors, we have to invest into the training of qualified workforce, and there are a lot of other areas to be improved as well. And certainly, we have to talk about ourselves and our activities with a positive undertone as we really do have a lot to offer. A country is as strong as its smallest and most distant corner. It is important that the investments that are made are contributed equally between different parts of the country. What matters is that the development would be balanced Mait Palts throughout Estonia, and it would be a great place Director General of the Estonian Chamber of to live, work and be an entrepreneur, both in Commerce and Industry the capital city and in the deep woods of Võru 3 RubriikEesti Estonia is a country of modern solutions Estonia Area: 45 227 km2 Population: 1.3 million Currency: Euro Languages: Estonian. Russian, English and Finnish are commonly spoken. Great economic freedom The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street stonia is trusted by many international Journal rank Estonia the 11th in their economic E organisations – both the NATO Cyber freedom index, leaving countries like USA, Great Britain and Finland behind. Defence Centre and the European Union’s IT Agency are located here. Estonia is a part of the European Union, OECD, NATO and the ID Schengen Area. E-Estonia There is a unique ID-card system used in Estonia is one of the leading countries in IT. Estonia, allowing access to various internet Skype, GrabCAD and several other innovative based services such as: ▪ (Business related e-solutions originated here. Ericson, a leading E-Business register information centre) communication devices company that has ettevotjaportaal.rik.ee over 1300 employees; Scandinavian banks; ▪ E-Tax Board/e-customs international logistic companies such as www.emta.ee Kühne + Nagel, and many other top level ▪ Patient portal (medical data) www.digilugu.ee companies operate in Estonia. Communicating with state institutions or banks is € conducted mainly via internet, and Estonians are Online banking used to a rapid pace of life that is supported by 99% of all bank transactions in Estonia are made smart devices. Starting a new company via the via internet banking. internet takes just 15 minutes. 4 Liberal enterprise policy promoting investments Characteristics of Estonia: ▪ Economic liberty ▪ Easy to start a business ▪ Well educated workforce or years Estonia has been practising ▪ Part of the Eurozone ▪ Low national debt liberal economic policy that values private F ▪ Low index of corruption property and treats all entrepreneurs on an ▪ Clear tax system equal level. The objective of the state is to foster ▪ Entrepreneurship-friendly 3rd sector entrepreneurship and creation of employment, and to raise the competitiveness of the businesses. and for the European Union member states that are situated in the west, it is a bridge to The “Estonian Entrepreneurship Strategy Northwest Russia. 2014-2020” states its objective as developing Estonia to become the centre for start-up Entrepreneur favouring tax companies that originate from the Baltic States, system Scandinavia and Northwest Russia, and to be the most suitable location in Europe for the All companies in Estonia are taxed equally and development centres of large corporations. In the on the same terms. Estonia’s trump is the tax framework of this strategy, the state has been exemptions for profit that is reinvested to the focusing on integration into the international company. business environment, export, and enhancing the competitiveness of companies and transit. The state taxes are income tax, social security The last mentioned point means that Estonia is a tax, land tax, customs, excise duties and heavy transit corridor to the Central European markets, goods vehicle tax. 5 Võru County Võru County – connecting 3 countries Finland Helsinki St. Petersburg Russia Tallinn Tartu Võru Riga Latvia Moscow Lithuania Belarus õru County is situated in the southeast of Estonia and is bordered in the south by the V Võru Republic of Latvia and in the east by the District Võru County Võru County of Pskov of the Russian Federation. It is therefore Area: 2305 km² the perfect location for international business. Largest town: Võru Population: 35 652 Due to the geographic location, the local people have centuries of experience in doing business with both of their neighbours. That knowledge and those skills are also useful nowadays. It is a strategically versatile location as the with important centres, both in Estonia and in the longest highway in Estonia, a highway that territories of the bordering neighbours. connects Luhamaa border crossing point with The GoSwift info system makes cargo delivery to Tallinn (the capital of Estonia), passes through other countries easy and comfortable. A program Võru County; as well as the international that was created in Estonia helps to avoid transport corridors Via Estica, Riga-Pskov obstructive traffic jams on highways, minimizing highway and Riga-St. Petersburg railroad. Tartu time expenditure, and has won several awards. airport is also located just 63km away from Võru. Today, the system is already in use in other All those possibilities ensure a fast connection countries including Russia, Finland and Lithuania. 6 Municipalities favouring entrepreneurship The county government and the local municipalities favouring entrepreneurship and new investments, provide comprehensive support. Suitable manufacturing and commercial premises can be found in Võru, the county centre, as well as nearby. Additional options are provided by the already existing industrial areas, as well as those that are still being set up, whereby investors can have a say. The advantages of the area Võru County’s advantages include great scientific and developmental potential, accessibility to qualified workforce and existing industrial areas. The strengths of Võru County ▪ High level of know-how and qualified workforce. ▪ Võru County Vocational Training Centre. ▪ Vicinity of Estonia’s oldest and largest educational institution – University of Tartu. ▪ Woodwork and furniture manufacturing competence centre. ▪ International highways (EE77/E263) and the railway. ▪ Presence of state institutions and availability of public services in the area. ▪ Safe area which is close to natural living environment. ▪ Rich cultural heritage and strong local identity. “Our location makes us the gate between Eastern and Western Europe.” Andres Kõiv Võru County Governor 7 Võru County Qualified workforce rofessions, including such areas P as technology, tourism, catering, accommodation, commerce and business, are taught at Võru County Vocational Training Centre at an excellent level. The training centre also offers continuous training and retraining that contributes to the ability of its students to adapt to the labour market requirements. The environment at school is modern and there is a lot of cooperation between the school and local businesses, to ensure an up-to-date and practical education for the students. A good example of this is the woodwork and furniture manufacturing competence centre that is located in Võru County Vocational Training Centre.