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Valga, 1 October 2018 – at today’s entrepreneurship seminar in Valga, prime minister Jüri Ratas stressed the importance of entrepreneurship in our country and the role of government support in starting a business and expanding already existing companies.

According to Ratas, entrepreneurship plays an important part in achieving the main objectives of the coalition – an increase in population, decreasing income inequality, boosting the economy, and ensuring that all Estonians feel the effects of economic growth on a personal basis.

“We must stand for our companies’ better possibilities for expansion and make sure that it is easy to start a business in Estonia. The government wishes to offer support that is necessary for the growth and development of our companies,” Ratas said at the entrepreneurship seminar.

The prime minister also noted that the government decided to decrease electricity excise up to nine times for entrepreneurs with an increased energy intensity, and to establish a nearly six times lower rate of excise for entrepreneurs who use gas in high amounts. These steps will promote investments, help to establish new jobs in Estonia, and thus contribute into our economic growth.

“The government will invest almost 118 million euros over the next four years in the field of information and communication technology to maintain, update, and develop the information systems and equipment of the e-state,” Ratas said. He added that the launch of the government pilot programme will support the digitalisation of industrial enterprises and help product development.

“I know that local roads are one of the main concerns for residents and entrepreneurs, particularly in South-Eastern Estonia. I recently met with the Association of Estonian Cities and Rural Municipalities, and they found it one of the most specific shortcomings, because maintaining local roads requires additional resources. Although the state supports road maintenance with more than 29 million euros this year, the numbers still have to increase,” prime minister said.

Ratas stated that the construction of a four-lane Kose–Mäo section of the Tallinn–Tartu highway will continue until 2022 and cost an estimated 170 million euros. “The new highway section will save approximately 10 million euros a year from traffic accident, time, and vehicle expenses, and decrease the distance between the two cities by 5.3 kilometres and 9 minutes,” he said.

The prime minister participated in the entrepreneurship seminar with Janek Mäggi, Minister of Public Administration, who will work this week in South-Eastern Estonia along with regional officials – in Valga for three days and in Põlva and Võru for one day.

“The programme of South-Eastern Estonia will begin next year. A total of 3.2 million euros over a period of four years will be invested in increasing the competitiveness of enterprises and creating new jobs, as well as the availability of state services and welfare of local residents,” Janek Mäggi, Minister of Public Administration, listed the objectives for which it is necessary to gain information this week in South‑Eastern Estonia. “I would like 1 October to become a traditional day for members of the government to visit local governments and get to know their concerns more thoroughly. This would advance cooperation and leadership for both parties,” the minister said.

This morning, the prime minister and the minister of public administration visited Atria Eesti AS food company and participated in the Valga entrepreneurship week seminar. The ministers will continue their endeavour with a visit to the production complex of Gomab OÜ, a manufacturer of solid wood furniture, and a meeting with local government leaders of Valga County. This evening, they will meet the Valga County Business Club.


Photographs of the tour: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vdrw0j6m200lib6/AAABPn5YsFmG9hJNxeLq96Hba?dl=0

Government Communication Unit

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