エストニア経済ニュース

●イルヴェス大統領，世界でエストニアのITを紹介
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves’ talk about Estonian IT is heard in the world. President Ilves has held many speeches about IT, including the recent London think tank Legatum Institute speech as well as CNN interview
(http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/05/business/estonias-rapidly-growing-digital-economy/index.html). Buzzfeed.com has even named him Twitter’s President as he uses Twitter to promote his IT ideas.
(Postimees, page 6, December 7, 2013)
 

●第3四半期の求人数：前年同期比＋12．3％
According to Statistics Estonia, in the III quarter 8600 job positions were available, i.e. up 12.3 per cent year-on-year.
(Postimees, page 8, December 7, 2013)
 

●11月の消費者物価指数：前年同月比＋1．5％
According to Statistics Estonia, the consumer price index increased an annual 1.5 per cent in November, mostly due to housing expenditures. Goods were 0.9 and services 2.5 per cent more expensive.
(Postimees, page 8, December 7, 2013)
 

●中央銀行：外資の流出は進んでいない
Bank of Estonia: foreign capital is not fleeing Estonia. Central bank’s economist Natalja Viilmann said that despite talks about foreign capital leaving Estonia based on the examples of a few parting foreign firms, nationwide statistics do not confirm such claims. The data of first two quarters of this year compared with last year’s relevant data shows that foreign direct investments have continued to grow in the average speed of previous years. Viilmann said there are differences in sectors, i.e. while in financial services, trade, agriculture, etc. investments go up, they decrease in real estate. Experts say that it is evident that foreign companies focus on bigger and more profitable markets and withdraw from “periphery”. This gives Estonian capital possibilities to purchase shares from the foreign companies.
(Äripäev, page 9, Decemer 9, 2013; Postimees, page 9, December 11, 2013)
 

●国が新規企業に6千万ユーロを出資
State will start investing in starting enterprises. State will invest € 60 million in starting companies via special funds in KredEx. In addition to state investment, according to the plan private investors will add 10 to 40 per cent to each subfund created by KredEx.
(Postimees, page 9, December 10, 2013)
 

●2013年成長率，＋1％以上の見通し
Finance Ministry expects 2013 economic growth to be at least 1 per cent. Considering the quicker growth in the III quarter than was first estimated, Estonian annual economic growth is expected to be at least 1 per cent. Statistics Estonia reported yesterday that it improved Estonia’s III quarter first estimates and found that instead of earlier 0.4 per cent, Estonian GDP grew an annual 0.7 per cent in the III quarter. The growth was thanks to salary growth and bigger consumption and investment courage. Export of goods fell by 1 per cent in the same period.
(Äripäev, page 10, December 10, 2013)
 

●エストニアとフィンランド，電子政府に関する協定に電子署名
Estonia and Finland will start cooperating at state level to promote Estonian e-services also in Finland. Prime Ministers of Estonia and Finland yesterday digitally signed a cooperation memorandum and today Andrus Ansip and Jyrki Katainen will introduce the new concept to a wider audience. It was the world’s first known international deal that has been digitally signed. Ansip said that while Finland will not pay for Estonian X-road, from now on the development costs are shared between two countries. The cooperation will first regard cooperation between tax boards and social welfare institutions. In case the cooperation works, the aim is to expand services also to other countries.
(Postimees, page 3, December 11, 2013)
 

●オルブライト米元国務長官，エストニアの民主主義を賞賛
Former US Secretary of State praised Estonia. Madeleine Albright told in a video message with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to the participants of Human Rights Day conference that Estonia has become a leader in the world not only in e-state field but also in protection of democratic values.
(Postimees, page 3, December 11, 2013)
 

●10月宿泊者数：前年同月比＋4％
In October, the number of tourists in accommodation establishments increased. According to Statistics Estonia, 148,000 foreign tourists and 80,000 domestic tourists used the services of accommodation establishments in October 2013, which is a total of 4 per cent increase year-on-year.
(Äripäev, page 9, December 11, 2013)
 

●Nortal社，オマーンの電子政府を開発
Estonian IT company Nortal takes its e-service to a new level in Oman. It is possible that as a result Oman will soon pass Estonia in regards to the speed of declaring taxes online. In addition to tax environment, Nortal will also prepare the e-business register for Oman as well as so-called Government Cloud. Nortal’s three projects in Oman are worth about € 20 million.
(Äripäev, page 10, December 11, 2013)
 

●幼稚園の電子情報システムを立ち上げ
In addition to e-school, parents can also access e-kindergarten soon. This will allow parents to better communicate with kindergarten teachers, but also facilitate communication between local government and kindergarten. Author of the idea Oliver Kasak says the aim of the initiative is to improve the communication possibilities. Kasak says the system had special attention on high security level.
(Postimees, page 7, December 13, 2013)
 

●Signwise社（電子署名サービス），アゼルバイジャンとスイスに進出
Estonian cross-border digital signature service Signwise expands to Azerbaijan and Switzerland. In addition to Estonia, Signwise is also used in Finland, Latvia and Lithuania.
(Postimees, page 8, December 14, 2013)
 

●木造住宅業界，新市場を模索
Estonian wooden house cluster expects export growth for 2014. In order to be successful with increasing competition, the producers look for new markets, e.g. in Asia. In seven months of 2012, the export of wooden houses was done for € 124.3 million, i.e. annual 14 per cent increase.
(Eesti Päevaleht, page 9, December 16, 2013)
 

●利益の再投資により外国投資が増加
Economist Maris Lauri says that foreign investments are increased by profits. Bank of Estonia’s data reveals that in the III quarter Estonia received € 428 million of direct investments that is 72.6 per cent more than last year. Most of it or € 340 million was reinvested revenues or profit that foreign owners did not take out of the company. Lauri notes that foreign investments grow thanks to profits earned in Estonia. At the same time companies that leave Estonia do not wish to admit that they failed in their business here or at home, although it is the main cause for them leaving.
(Äripäev, page 14, December 17, 2013)
 

●Transiidikeskus社（コンテナ貨物），年10％の成長を期待
Head of Transiidikeskus Erik Laidvee expects 10 per cent of growth per year. Transit company’s growth will come thanks to investments in the port. In regards to Russia, Laidvee says the situation is the same as in 1997 and Russian side creates obstacles for Estonia. Laidvee also observes closely Rail Baltic’s news as the cargo station’s final destination will be Port of Muuga.
(Äripäev, Logistics extra, pages 4-9, December 17, 2013)
 

●エストニア，欧州宇宙機関への加盟を準備
Estonia prepares for European Space Agency’s full membership talks. President of the Parliament Ene Ergma (IRL) told that Estonia is prepared to become a full member after sending its first satellite ESTCube-1 to the orbit this year.
(Postimees, page 7, December 18, 2013)
 

●首相，高水準の教育を生かした人材獲得を呼びかけ
Prime Minister said Estonia could attract more talents thanks to good education level and good living environment. In 2012, 2.19 per cent of GDP was spent on research and development, while Andrus Ansip said we could be happy with 3 per cent figure. A recent global study of 103 states by INSEAD shows that Estonia ranks 23rd in regards to Global Talent Competitiveness Index.
(Äripäev, page 7, December 18, 2013)
 

●Port of Tallinn社，年間旅客数900万人突破へ
Port of Tallinn will make a new passenger record in 2013. The port will pass 9 million passenger limit this year. In 2012 the port served 8.84 million passengers that was also a record then.
(Äripäev, page 11, December 18, 2013)
 

●Transferwise社創業者，「今年のビジネスマン」に選出
Two young Estonian entrepreneurs from Transferwise are Äripäev's businessmen of the year. Peer-to-peer money transfer service Transferwise creators Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus founded the company in Käärmann’s London apartment’s basement. Now their service is competing with banks as their transfer fee is much lower. They got the idea when they realised that UK banks take 4 per cent on a bank transfer, which in case of € 1000 was € 40 loss. Transferwise HQ is in London to be close to their clients, but they also have rooms at Tallinn University of Technology’s technology park. Käärmann and Hinrikus praise their team for their success.
(Äripäev, pages 4-7, December 20, 2013)