Business opportunities in North Estonia
Which kinds of business opportunities are there for Finnish companies in Rapla and Harju counties?
Harju County
Harju county is the largest county in Estonia and its capital is Tallinn. Therefore the business opportunities vary from IT to chemical Industry. The salaries are the highest in Harju county compared with all the other 14 Estonian counties.
Vihterpalu Manor is looking for a new owner
Harju county, the capital region has the majority of Estonian state-, education- and financial institutions. The business environment is also favourable: existing reputable multinationals; high level of foreign direct investments.
Central location in North-Eastern Europe: 24 hours coverage of all the major metropolises around the Baltic Sea and in Eastern Europe, 36 hours from the Central Europe and Scandinavia.
Highly developed infrastructure: electricity, water supply and sewerage system in all settlements, natural gas supply in most part of the county. A wide choice of locations available: 48 industrial parks and tech villages, a science and a smart city business park, 4 business incubators in Tallinn and one in Paldiski town, 5 competence centres at Tallinn Technopol, etc.
Skilled and educated labour force with broad range of engineering excellence, with experience of international communication and usually multi-lingual. Development of labor is supported by 10 universities located in Tallinn and a number of educational and professional colleges.
Excellent logistical location and efficient transport connections via air, sea, rail and road network.
Ice free harbours with free economic zones in Paldiski and Muuga are able to receive large ocean going vessels and having land for the construction of new terminals.
Daily ferry connections between Tallinn and Helsinki, daily departures to Sweden.
Rapla County
Raplamaa is rich for small and medium-sized enterprises: forest and wood companies (Raplamaa is the most forested county in continental Estonia), small furniture producers, metal and car workshops, sewing, handicraft, tourism, furbishing, property mediation etc.
Okta Centrum completed in 1977, is something of a monument to Soviet architecture. It resembles a UFO that has landed. It’s located in centrum of Rapla town.
But there are some larger companies, for example, the producer of paint and varnishes Akzo Nobel (former ES Sadolin) in the city of Rapla which was established as the first international enterprise before estonia regained its independence. Pinotex and Sadolin are its most famous brands. Salutaguse yeast factory Salutaguse Pärmitehas (Lallemand) in Kohila rural municipality, glass bottles producer O-I Production in Järvakandi and since 2010 ready-to-eat food factory Saarioinen Eest OÜ near Rapla town.
Why to invest in Rapla County?
Excellent geographical location - the centre of Rapla County is only 50 km from the capital Tallinn;
Fast access to international airport, cargo and passenger ports and railway; Rail Baltic and Via Baltica passes through Rapla County; Stable population and available, motivated workforce. Relatively low level of cost for starting business. Clean, cultural, secure and beautiful place to work, live and raise a family.
Rapla is also known as the basketball capital of Estonia and has also a basketball school The team of Rapla is a very good one and has many American players. Read more here
Please, also explain us which kinds of investment opportunities there are for Finnish companies?
The investment opportunities vary in the different locations in Harju county. In western part Paldiski for example is a unique place for different new energy productions.
Paldiski has a ice free port and there will be also a regionaal LNG terminal. Logistics, energy, mechanical engineering, food, bioeconomy etc. are all welcome in Harju County.
Paldiski
As to the Rapla County then most welcome for investments are for example into green food production due to the counties clean land. But also wood, textile, metal production is possible there.
If a Finnish company decides to invest in these regions, what are the most important issues this enterprise must take into its consideration to succeed in these markets?
Harju and Rapla counties are similar to other areas in Estonia. Main issue is lack of labour force. Therefore Estonian government is supporting through EU funds companies in their digitalization and automatization processes.
There is slightly more difficult to get workers/employees in farther locations from the capital Tallinn but the enthusiasm and flexibility of the local municipalities even that out. The local municipalities in regions further from capital are very supportive towards the new investors.
Which kind of assistance and which kinds of benefits there are in these regions for Finnish companies which would like to invest in these regions?
investment aid to shared service and research & development centres (200,000)
investment aid for creating and expanding electricity/gas/water/telco network connection
enterprise development program
large investor support scheme
foreign recruitment grant, work in Estonia program
support for digital audit
E - residency program The Republic of Estonia is the first country to offer e-Residency, a government issued digital identity that empowers entrepreneurs around the world to set up and run a location-independent business. Read more
supporting measures for employers (Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund)
industrial loan (Kredex) and investment support for purchasing solar panels (Kredex)
Further information available at
Visit Harju also in Finnish
Contact person:
Anneli Hansen
Director of Regional Business Development in North Estonia
Estonian Investment Agency
Anneli.Hansen ( a ) eas.ee
