Two new Enterprise Estonia programmes to provide 130 million kroons in support for Estonian export capacity

Enterprise Estonia today launched two aid programmes – one for co-marketing and the other for trade fairs abroad – which will increase Estonian companies’ export capacity on foreign markets. The aid, which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, amounts to a total 130 million kroons.

Enterprise Estonia management board member Maria Alajõe says that to this point the state has organized co-exhibitions by companies at major trade fairs outside Estonia. This is the first time that support has been granted for co-marketing and as well as visits to and participation at trade fairs abroad. “The goal of both aid programmes is to make products and services offered by Estonian companies better known in foreign countries and thus increase these companies’ export turnover,“ said Alajõe. “These programmes weren’t hatched in some office. Desire for the aid money was expressed by companies that are already taking part on these foreign markets or are considering launching export activity. The amount of paperwork for receiving aid has been kept to a minimum and the application process should be within the means of every active and goal-oriented company, regardless of its size.”

Enterprise Estonia will support international co-marketing for exporters, either just starting up or already operating, allowing companies to share their experience and knowledge with each other, find and involve partners in cooperation for fulfilling large subcontracting tenders, and save on marketing costs by pursuing joint efforts. The support will help companies defray the costs of finding contacts through a project manager or partner abroad, conducting background investigations, holding marketing events aimed at target markets abroad or in Estonia, and organizing seminars, information events and roundtables related to their project.

To be eligible for support, a project must involve at least four companies, with at least two different activities specified for support. The applicant must be an association of companies, a business incubator, a county development centre, a research or technology park , or professional union or association. However, the actual aid recipients will be the individual companies. Persons working in creative fields can apply for the aid through their professional associations – for example, designers can apply through the Estonian Association of Designers or film producers through the Estonian Film-Makers’ Union. Support for each project will range from 50,000-700,000 kroons, self-financing must be 50%,and project duration has to be up to 12 months.

The trade fairs programme will help promote Estonian companies and their products abroad. Companies intending to exhibit at trade fairs internationally are eligible for aid in the framework of the programme. Co-visitation of trade fairs is also eligible. The maximum amount of aid for an exhibitor at one foreign trade fair is 750,000 kroons and 40,000-150,000 kroons for companies visiting trade fairs. The self-financing requirement is 50% in this case as well .
In addition to the recently opened programmes, Estonian exporters receive aid from Enterprise Estonia’s export marketing programme, which is also co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The application round began in late February. The programme’s budget up to 2013 is 400 million kroons.

Before submitting applications, companies are advised to seek a preliminary consultation with Enterprise Estonia’s own consultants or at a county development centre. For more (Estonian-language) information about both support programmes, please visit Enterprise Estonia online at www.eas.ee/yhisturundus and www.eas.ee/messitoetus