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Get ready for 2024 with CAdFE, the Business Club for French speakers in Estonia

Get ready for 2024 with CAdFE, the Business Club for French speakers in Estonia

If you are a French speaker living in Estonia, or an Estonian entrepreneur wishing to develop your business in French-speaking countries, if you are passionate about networking, developing your business and connecting with like-minded professionals…

Look no further! CAdFE, the exclusive Business Club for French speakers in Estonia, and soon to be International Chamber of Commerce, is delighted to invite you to join our dynamic business community.

💼 What we offer:

-Meetings and networking

-Conferences and information on the business world

-Business coaching and mentoring

-Cooperative spirit

-Social and cultural events

🔗 How can I join?

Becoming a member is easy!

Simply visit our website and complete the membership application form. https://bit.ly/cadfe_joinus

Our members come from a variety of countries: France, Estonia, Belgium, Switzerland, the UK, South Korea…

We speak French, English and Estonian, and our language of communication is English.

CAdFE is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, which you can find out more about here: https: //www.cadfe.ee/en/about-us

Visit our website: https: //www.cadfe.ee/en

See you soon!

Contact us!

✉ contact@ccife.ee

CCI France-Estonie is proudly affiliated to CCI France International, the worldwide network of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Download the CCIFI Connect application

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Copyright 2024 Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie France Estonie

Contact us!

✉ contact@ccife.ee

CCI France-Estonie is proudly affiliated to CCI France International, the worldwide network of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Download the CCIFI Connect application

Accelerate your business thanks to the 1st private network of French companies in 94 countries: 119 chambers | 33,000 companies | 4,000 events | 300 committees | 1,200 exclusive advantages

Exclusively for members of the CCI Françaises à l’International, discover the CCIFI Connect app.

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France’s attractiveness to foreign direct investment: a CAdFE analysis.

France's attractiveness to foreign direct investment: a CAdFE analysis.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has played an important role in France’s economic landscape.
In 2021 and 2022, France is set to become one of the main destinations for FDI in Europe.
This article summarizes CAdFE’s analysis on the subject, explores the different sectors and regions that traditionally attract the most foreign investment, and highlights why France remains a preferred destination.

France has attracted considerable foreign direct investment in a variety of sectors and regions.
In the following sections, we provide an overview of the sectors and regions that have historically captured investors.

Key attraction sectors

Aerospace: France’s aerospace industry enjoys an excellent reputation, with major companies such as Airbus headquartered in the country.
The sector regularly attracts FDI thanks to its innovation and global reach.

Agriculture: France’s agricultural sector is a cornerstone of its economy, known for its high-quality products.
Foreign investment in agriculture often targets sustainable and organic farming practices.

Digital: France’s digital and technology sector is booming, particularly in cities like Paris.
FDI in this sector stimulates innovation and supports start-ups.

Clean energy: France is committed to clean energy initiatives, making it an attractive destination for FDI in renewable energy projects.

Healthcare : France’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors have a strong presence, attracting investment in research and development.

Rail: With a world-class rail system, France’s rail infrastructure attracts FDI, particularly in high-speed rail technology.

Important regions

Paris and Ile-de-France region: The capital, Paris, and its surrounding region, Ile-de-France, have always been the epicenter of foreign investment.
The city’s global connectivity and business-friendly environment make it a prime choice.

Lyon and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region: Lyon, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is an emerging hub for FDI, particularly in the digital and biotech sectors.

Aerospace Valley: Located in the Occitanie region, Aerospace Valley is a hotbed of aerospace investment, attracting leading companies and research institutes.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine region: Known for its agricultural and renewable energy opportunities, this region attracts FDI in sustainable practices.

Grand Est region : The Grand Est region is starting to attract FDI for its growing manufacturing and logistics sectors.

PACA zone (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur): The sunny south of France, particularly the PACA region, is a magnet for FDI in the tourism and luxury industries.

Table: The evolution of the top 10 destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI) between 2012 and 2022

Source: Nayak S., 2023 September.
Ranked: Top Countries for Foreign Direct Investment Flows.
Visual Capitalist. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/top-countries-foreign-direct-investment-flows/

France’s appeal to foreign investors lies not only in the diversity of its sectors, but also in its commitment to innovation, sustainable development and business-friendly policies.
While these sectors and regions have traditionally attracted investment, France continues to evolve and adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of the global economy.

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Overcoming Challenges and Seizing Economic Opportunities

Overcoming Challenges and Seizing Economic Opportunities

Despite its resilience, in 2023 Estonia finds itself at a critical point in its economic journey.
Indeed, the current year presents a mix of major challenges and opportunities.
Estonia’s economic dynamics reveal a profound transition underway, requiring adaptability and strategic planning.
In its role as a chamber of commerce, CAdFE offers you a summary of the latest OECD and European Commission economic notes on the subject.

The Challenges of 2023: A Year of Contraction and Uncertainty

In 2023, Estonia is forecasting a 1.3% erosion of its GDP.
This decline can be attributed to several key factors that have put pressure on the economy.
Income pressures, lower energy prices and reduced residential investment due to higher interest rates are among the main contributors to this economic slowdown.
It’s a year in which Estonia faces headwinds, but it’s essential to remember that challenges are often catalysts for innovation and change.

Taming the Inflation Dragon: A Crucial Task

Inflation has been a notable concern for Estonia.
In 2022, the country saw an astonishing 19.4% inflation rate.
This was mainly due to the dramatic rise in energy and food costs.
To mitigate the impact on households, the Estonian government quickly put in place various measures, including fixed-price electricity programs and direct compensation for energy expenses.
As 2023 unfolds, inflation is expected to stabilize at around 5% by the end of the year, although uncertainties remain.
Balancing inflation while ensuring economic growth is a delicate balancing act for Estonia to navigate.

Geopolitical Challenges: The Impact of the Conflict in Ukraine

The global geopolitical landscape, in particular the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, presented additional complexities for Estonia.
These events have had a negative impact on Estonian exports, further testing the country’s economic resilience.
However, it is a testament to Estonia’s resilience that, despite these external challenges, its labor market remains robust.
The country recorded a relatively low unemployment rate of 5.3% in the first quarter of 2023, even after taking in a substantial number of Ukrainian refugees.
This successful integration of refugees into the labor market underlines Estonia’s adaptability and inclusiveness.

Budgetary responses: Balancing the budget

The Estonian authorities have responded proactively to economic challenges by implementing fiscal measures.
Temporary reductions in fuel excise duties and initiatives to strengthen the social safety net are among the measures undertaken.
However, a delicate balance needs to be maintained to ensure that these measures do not exacerbate inflation.

The Way Forward: Sustainability and Inclusiveness

Estonia’s economic prospects depend on sustainable and inclusive policies.
Key elements of this path forward include support for vulnerable households, investment in energy efficiency and security, and a judicious balance between income generation and essential investment.
In addition, labor market policies should be designed to reduce the gender pay gap and enhance workforce skills.
These measures are essential to promote responsible and inclusive growth.

In summary, Estonia’s economic landscape in 2023 is marked by both challenges and opportunities.
While the year brings contraction and inflationary pressures, it is also an opportunity for Estonia to reaffirm its resilience and chart a course towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.
As the nation navigates these economic waters, its ability to meet current challenges while pursuing responsible growth will be key to long-term stability and prosperity.
Estonia, a nation with a history of adaptability and innovation, is well positioned to embrace the promise of 2024, with a projected growth rate of 3.2%, driven by stronger external demand.

sources :

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My experience at CAdFE: Testimony of Arthur Fertier, CAdFE intern

My experience at CAdFE:
Testimony of Arthur Fertier, CAdFE trainee

Arthur Ferthier, center, Jean-Marc Salsa, CAdFE General Secretary and Violaine Champetier de Ribes, CAdFE President.

As my internship with CAdFE is drawing to a close, I’ve been invited to give an account of my 5-month experience in Tallinn.
I’d like to share with you my impressions of the country, what I achieved during my internship, and what this experience brought me overall.

All these questions were put to me by Violaine Champetier de Ribes, President of the Club d’Affaires des Francophones en Estonie.

How did you choose your internship?

I chose to apply to CAdFE for an internship because, being interested in international relations, I wanted to learn more about economic and trade relations between France and other European countries, particularly the Baltic states.
It also seemed like a good opportunity to understand the relationship between the public and private sectors internationally, contribute in some way to France’s economic development abroad, develop a new vision of entrepreneurship and discover a new culture.

Can you tell us a bit more about your studies and what subjects you’d like to specialize in?

I went through a business school and the faculty of philosophy before arriving at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Rennes in 2021.
Since then, I’ve followed a fairly generalist curriculum, based mainly on social sciences, economics, law, history and foreign language courses.
I chose to concentrate on the international relations aspect whenever possible during my studies, which I continued to do when I went to study in Australia, at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, during the second half of 2022.
On my return to France, I started looking for an internship in line with my interest in international relations, and came to Estonia to discover and contribute to CAdFE’s activities.

Next September I’ll be enrolling in the Master’s program in International Relations at Sciences Po Rennes, and for the time being I’d like to continue along this path.

Do you already have an idea of the profession you’d like to pursue?

Although I don’t yet have a clear idea of what I’d like to do, I’d like to focus on positions that require a certain amount of expertise in international relations.
This could be as a consultant or international development officer in the private sector, or as head of an international relations unit in a public administration, for example.
On the other hand, I might also be interested in positions in the diplomatic service or in international organizations.

What did you think of Estonia when you arrived last March?

Like many people in France, I knew very little about Estonia, although I did know a few things about the history of the country and the region in general.
One of the ideas I had when I arrived was that of a country with a cold climate in which it might be more difficult to integrate socially than in other countries.
These preconceptions are not entirely wrong, but they do need to be qualified.
Compared with the capitals of the other Baltic countries, Tallinn gave me the impression of a quiet city with a well-preserved architectural heritage.
And it was also while I was learning a little about Estonia that I discovered its policy at the forefront of digitalization, which greatly aroused my curiosity.

What was your biggest surprise?

I have to admit that I didn’t really experience any “shock” living in Estonia, even if I did notice some big differences.
What perhaps surprised me the most was the ease with which all sorts of administrative formalities are carried out: in less than two hours all the papers I needed for my stay were obtained and I had my transport card to get around Tallinn free of charge.

On a day-to-day basis, Estonians are much quieter than the inhabitants of any country I’ve visited before, and at weekends Tallinn is an extremely quiet city, which I find rather pleasant.

Above all, I discovered a city and a country in full development, and a completely different view of Europe, which was very interesting.

What have you learned from your internship?

On many levels, this internship taught me a lot.
First of all, I was able to discover how an association works, the “chamber of commerce” model, and gain a better understanding of all the resources needed to develop a network of entrepreneurs, create business opportunities and promote companies from the French-speaking world in Estonia.
The most enriching part was surely the encounters I was able to make through the activities we were able to carry out with CAdFE.
I had the chance to talk to entrepreneurs from all walks of life, with very varied profiles and activities, but I was also able to talk to officials and representatives from several countries, including Estonia and France.
I also had the opportunity to attend conferences that gave me a better understanding of economic issues in Estonia, as well as an outside perspective on French economic policy.
In terms of skills, I was able to write numerous articles and reports, use a wide range of communication tools and speak English on a daily basis, all of which was very beneficial for me and will undoubtedly be useful in the future.

What did you like less?
Why or why not?

Overall, this internship has been a positive experience for me, so there are few bad points to mention here.
The least “pleasant” periods, if I can put it that way, were the times when we were confronted with difficulties in organizing our events, whether due to the format or sometimes the difficulty of getting enough people together.
But these things are part and parcel of the job, and shouldn’t be discouraging, as they’re always solved in the end.

How can this internship help you in the future?

This internship was useful because it gave me the experience I was lacking to be able to think more precisely about my professional project.
I was also able to maintain and acquire skills, in many areas, that I will certainly need to use again.
I was also able to meet a number of professionals, and in this way build up a network that I could potentially call on in the future.
I also learned a lot about the economy and history of the country and region, which will be very useful for my future studies.
This internship has been very enriching for me, and I think I’ll come out of it more competent and informed.

“I’d like to thank everyone who helped make this internship so interesting, and especially the members of the CAdFE board who mentored and guided me throughout”.

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A new Fruitiki article has just been published!

A new Fruitiki article has just been published!

We are pleased and proud to share with you this article about the winners of the Business Creation Competition for Ukrainian refugee women.

The Fruitiki business project, which sells healthy snacks made from dried fruit and dried meat , won the competition organized jointly by CAdFE, Hands For Ukraine and FICE (Council of Foreign Investors in Estonia) on May 18, 2023.

( This article is in Estonian. An article-interview in French and English will be published soon on our website!)

You can read more about Anna and Marina’s story and motivations here:

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AI: How will Bürokratt make life easier for entrepreneurs in Estonia? Interview with Ott Velsberg

AI: How will Bürokratt make life easier for entrepreneurs in Estonia? Interview with Ott Velsberg

IA: Comment Bürokratt va simplifier la vie des entrepreneurs en Estonie? Entretien avec Ott Velsberg

The recent explosion in the use of Artificial Intelligence by the general public is only one consequence of the long-term efforts of various initiatives, both private and public, to obtain a tool capable of simplifying the lives of entrepreneurs, employees, customers and citizens in general.
Estonia, a pioneer in digitalization, couldn’t afford to miss out on the emergence of AI, and for several years now has been developing tools that could improve exchanges between the state and its citizens.

Ott Velsberg, Government Chief Data Officer at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia, has been entrusted with this task.
Mr. Vesberg’s role, an expert in data science, is to oversee the strategic coordination and planning of the data ecosystem within the government, as well as various projects in areas such as AI, data governance and in particular citizen-centric data governance, privacy-enhancing technologies and open data.
He also leads the implementation of the government’s AI strategy and is particularly involved in the development of Bürokratt, the Estonian state’s virtual assistant.

The term Kratt comes from Estonian mythology, where it was used to designate a magical creature, born of a pact with the devil and responding to its master’s every command.
As the Kratt became dangerous to its owner when not given a task, the creature has today become a metaphor for Artificial Intelligence, a servant to be wary of.
The play on words with “bureaucrat” was therefore quite natural.
At first glance, Bürokratt appears to be a chatbot (conversational robot) comparable to the other virtual assistants you’ll come across on many websites, guiding you through your navigation and answering your questions.
Bürokratt’s ambition is to relieve citizens of cumbersome administrative procedures such as applying for permits or renewing identity papers, by offering an easy-to-use, intuitive platform accessible to all.
But then, how is Bürokratt comparable to ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence that’s in the news a lot these days?
Bürokratt’s field of competence, as developed by Mr. Velsberg’s team, is limited to those public services that are willing to adopt it.
In other words, Bürokratt will not answer your questions based on what it finds on the Internet, as ChatGPT currently does, but will rather use the resources provided by the services employing it, and will also have the power to fill in administrative documents based on the information it obtains during its discussion with the citizen, to an extent defined by the services in question.
Bürokratt does not create content to order, but uses the information you provide to speed up the processing of the most redundant tasks (filling in forms and transmitting files, for example).
To find out more about the features and benefits of Bürokratt, particularly for the business world, we spoke to Ott Velsberg, who agreed to answer our questions.

What are Bürokratt’s current areas of application and use, and how might these evolve in the future?

Today, Bürokratt has become a popular chatbot, used by numerous government agencies such as the Estonian Statistical Office, the police, the border guards and the municipality of Viimsi.
At present, Bürokratt’s primary function is to relieve users of administrative burdens and answer frequently asked questions.
Nevertheless, there is a growing demand to extend Bürokratt’s services.
The future of Bürokratt looks promising, with the aim of providing people with a single point of contact for interacting with the government and obtaining any information they may need.
The potential for optimizing communication with government and access to information makes Bürokratt an indispensable tool for the future of public services.
We are currently working on the implementation of voice interaction, the addition of several languages, an automatic translator and even a sign language recognition tool.
In concrete terms, if someone decides today to set up a business in Estonia, how can Bürokratt help them do that?
While the government agencies I mentioned earlier are already using Bürokratt, the Center for National Registers and Information Systems (RIK) is currently in the process of implementing Bürokratt into its operations.
RIK is responsible for the development and maintenance of the e-Financials portal, one of Estonia’s key business services.
Once Bürokratt has been adopted by RIK, it will be of great assistance to companies, facilitating administrative procedures for setting up a business, for example, or helping to provide the documents required for annual financial audits.
In addition to its use by RIK, Bürokratt is also able to notify companies of subsidies to which they may be entitled, inform them of new market opportunities, assist them with tax procedures and much more.
All in all, the process will be optimized and simplified.
This augurs well for the future of public services, which will become more accessible and practical for entrepreneurs.

Have you anticipated or seen any other needs among entrepreneurs in Estonia that the government could address via AI?

Bürokratt’s potential in the field of business-related services is enormous.
Artificial intelligence could provide companies with recommendations on wage differentials, business opportunities, new markets and so on.
For example, Bürokratt could make it easier to set up a business by offering resources and advice, but the service could also help with all kinds of tax-related administrative tasks, making tax legislation easier to understand.
Overall, the use of Bürokratt in the business world could significantly improve the efficiency and productivity of companies.
As technology advances, we can expect to see increasingly sophisticated tools providing an even wider range of services to businesses of all sizes.
You’ve already mentioned in an interview that Estonia isn’t the only country working on a project of this type.
Are you collaborating with other countries to develop Bürokratt?
What form does this collaboration take?
Collaboration and knowledge sharing are crucial to development and progress in the public service, especially when it comes to virtual assistants.
We are actively engaged in discussions with a number of countries to share our methods and explore technology transfer opportunities in order to create an interoperable network of virtual assistants.
For example, we were able to exchange views with Finland on their AuroraAI virtual assistant, but we also entered into discussions with Belgium about the adoption of Bürokratt, focusing on the possibility of providing public services across borders, to make them more convenient and accessible to citizens.
Through these discussions, we seek to identify points of common interest and understand how our technologies can be adapted and reused in other countries.
Our ultimate aim is to promote innovation and collaboration in the public sector, and move towards a future where citizens around the globe have access to quality public services.
Have you been approached by companies or governments to develop “their version” of Bürokratt?
Bürokratt’s popularity is not limited to government agencies.
Many companies have also expressed interest in implementing Bürokratt in their operations, and some have already taken the plunge.
The widespread adoption of Bürokratt in the private sector comes as no surprise, since the tool is available as open source software.
Companies can easily take advantage of Bürokratt’s capabilities in terms of optimizing administrative tasks, reducing costs and increasing overall efficiency.
As the use of Bürokratt becomes more widespread in many sectors, we expect more and more organizations to benefit from its many advantages.
In view of the controversies and concerns about the democratization of AI, do you consider Bürokratt to be a safe technology?
Ensuring that Bürokratt is a safe and secure technology for our users is of paramount importance to us.
Privacy, trust and cybersecurity are major components of our development process, and we systematically ensure that our tools adhere to the highest security standards.
To this end, we implement rigorous security measures and protocols throughout the development cycle, from design to deployment.
We continuously monitor and respond to potential security breaches.
Our dedication to security and privacy is reflected in the high level of trust our users place in Bürokratt.
We recognize the vital importance of maintaining this trust, and will continue to prioritize security in the development of our technologies in the future.
Note: This interview was originally conducted in English.

Arthur Fertier

Trainee at CAdFE

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What does the Central Bank of Estonia predict for the economy in 2023?

What economic forecasts for 2023
according to the Central Bank of Estonia?

Quelles prévisions économiques pour l’année 2023 selon la Banque Centrale d’Estonie ?

The inflationary and energy crisis affecting the European Union has been particularly severe in Estonia, with the highest inflation rate in Europe in 2022 (19.4%).
Yet demand has held up, thanks in particular to high levels of disposable savings.
This has enabled companies to achieve relatively good results.
However, the collapse in demand is beginning to show and is likely to accelerate in Q1 2023.
As a result, the macroeconomic outlook for 2023 is darkening.
A long-term exit from the crisis is possible at the expense of a balanced budget, a first for Estonia.

A macro-economic situation that has held up relatively well in 2022

In contrast to the rest of the European Union, the inflationary crisis will begin in Estonia at the end of 2021, with the reform of Pillar II of the pension system, making over a billion euros of liquidity available on the market.
Added to this is the high level of savings available as a result of the Covid crisis, which further supports demand and creates the first inflationary pressures.
The war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, accentuated these tensions and made the situation uncontrollable: between November 2021 and November 2022, inflation was almost 22.5% (then 19.4% from January 2022 to January 2023).
Despite this high inflation, demand remained stable in the first three quarters of 2022, mainly because households opted to draw on their disposable savings.
While this helped to accelerate inflation, it also enabled companies to weather the crisis well: over the course of 2022, the unemployment rate fell by one point, from 6.2% to 5.2%.
By way of comparison, the European average is 6% at the end of 2022, and France 7.1%.
In addition to sustained demand, the post-Covid recovery is also responsible for this buoyant job market.
Labor shortages may even have emerged in certain sectors, and salaries have risen by 8.7% over 2022, with the average salary standing at almost EUR 1,682.
In 2022, however, the Estonian economy experienced a slight recession, at -0.5% according to the Central Bank of Estonia.
This should be qualified by the fact that, at the same time, the Ministry of Finance announced growth of 1%.
In any case, these figures contrast sharply with the strong dynamism of 2021, with its 8.5% growth.
Public finances were relatively sound over the year: spending to support the population came late in the year, while revenues rose sharply from the start, thanks in particular to sustained demand despite inflation.
As a result, the public deficit is below 2% for 2022.

A gloomy outlook for 2023

The strong demand of the first three quarters of 2022 has slowed since the fourth quarter, due to dwindling disposable savings and inflation outstripping wage growth.
This drop in domestic demand, combined with higher production costs due to energy inflation, is a major threat to businesses.
We must also take into account the direct consequences of European sanctions against Russia: the Central Bank of Estonia estimates that 11% of Estonian employees depend on products of Russian origin.
Faced with these difficulties, the companies concerned are likely to lay off over 1,000 employees.
Added to this are the Ukrainian refugees: at the beginning of December 2022, almost 6,300 of them were registered as unemployed, i.e. 12.6% of the registered unemployed.
In 2023, unemployment is set to soar: the Central Bank of Estonia anticipates an unemployment rate of almost 8.5% in 2023 and 8.7% in 2024.
Against this backdrop of crisis, the Central Bank of Estonia anticipates growth of 0.4% in 2023 (compared with 0.5% for the Ministry of Finance).
Similarly, inflation will fall but remain high: the Central Bank of Estonia forecasts a 9.3% rise in prices in 2023 (compared with 6.7 for the Ministry of Finance).
Although the government measures introduced in autumn 2022 may have contained energy inflation somewhat, falling temperatures are likely to push it up again.
This uncertainty, combined with falling domestic and foreign demand and rising interest rates, is discouraging companies from investing.
The Central Bank of Estonia believes that the effect of the austerity monetary policy is being counteracted by a fiscal policy that it considers to be stimulative, as it is too deficit-oriented.
In fact, the budget deficit will increase exponentially in 2023: on the one hand, revenues will fall due to the decline in consumption and the rise in non-taxable social minimums, and on the other, expenditure will rise sharply, notably due to the increase in family allowances and the rise in public-sector wages to bring them into line with the private sector.
Consequently, without major policy changes during the year, the budget deficit will be 4.6% of GDP in 2023.

A long-term way out of the crisis at the expense of a balanced budget

The region’s geopolitical context makes long-term predictions uncertain.
However, the Central Bank of Estonia anticipates a strong recovery in 2024, with growth of 3.1% (compared with 3.0 according to the Ministry of Finance) and inflation down to 2.8% (1% according to the Ministry of Finance).
In the long term, this recovery will help to reduce unemployment, which is expected to remain at 8.7% in 2024, before falling to 7.6% from 2025 onwards.
The 2023 budget voted by the Estonian Parliament at the end of November prioritized the energy and security emergency over budgetary balance by introducing numerous new expenditures (i.e. more than 3% of GDP allocated to the defense sector).
In the absence of major geopolitical or economic developments, the budget deficit should rise to 4.6% of GDP in 2023, then fall by 0.7% a year to 3.8% in 2024, 3.1% in 2025 and fall back below 3% in 2026, with a deficit of 2.6% of GDP.
According to the Central Bank of Estonia, as public spending is incompressible due to its strategic importance, the only room for manoeuvre available to the State is on the revenue side.
The Central Bank concludes its report by pointing out that the tax burden is one of the lowest in the European Union (33.3% of GDP), whereas the EU average is around 40%.

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Estonia’s foreign trade in the first three quarters of 2022

Estonia's foreign trade at
in the first three quarters of 2022

Le commerce extérieur de l’Estonie lors des trois premiers trimestres 2022

Estonia’s foreign trade in goods by value grew strongly in the first half of 2022, driven by a sharp rise in both export and import price indices.
This strong increase seems to mask a stagnation, or even a decline, in Estonian foreign trade by volume.
Nevertheless, the structure of Estonian trade remains unchanged: Estonia trades mainly with its neighbors and within the EU, leading it to develop a slight trade deficit of EUR 2.5 bn (compared with EUR 1.25 bn for the first three quarters of 2021).

Estonian foreign trade: strong price-driven growth

In the first three quarters of 2022, Estonia exported goods worth EUR 16 bn and imported goods worth EUR 18.5 bn.
In both cases, this represents a marked increase on the first three quarters of 2021, when exports totaled EUR 13.17 bn (+21%) and imports EUR 14.42 bn (+28%).
The trade deficit doubled from EUR 1.25 bn to EUR 2.5 bn (+100%).
These increases are mainly due to higher prices (export price index: +23.1% between September 2021 and September 2022, year-on-year; import price index: +24.8%).
This means that the increase in trade by value is not reflected in trade volumes.
As a result, export volumes in the first three quarters of 2022 are lower than in the first three quarters of 2021 (-2% year-on-year).
On the other hand, import volumes increased (+3.2%).
Of the 16 bn EUR of goods exported by Estonia, 10.11 bn EUR were of Estonian origin – 63% of the total exported.
The proportion is lower than in the first three quarters of 2021, when Estonia exported EUR 9.61 bn of goods of Estonian origin.

The country will export machinery and electronic equipment worth EUR 3.26 billion in 2022, EUR 242 million more than in 2021.
This type of product accounts for the largest share of exports (20.4%), followed by mineral and petroleum products (EUR 3.17 bn, or 19.9% of exports).
Exports of mineral products have risen by 43% compared with 2021 (EUR 2.225 billion in 2021), an increase of EUR 952 million.
Exports of wood products have also risen, from 1.43 billion EUR in 2021 to 1.79 billion EUR in 2022.

Machinery and electronic equipment are also the main import items, accounting for EUR 3.68 bn, or 19.9% of total imports for the year.
Mineral and petroleum products also saw the biggest increase over the year, rising from EUR 2.31 billion in the first three quarters of 2021 to EUR 3.68 billion in 2022.
This 59% increase is mainly due to higher energy and hydrocarbon prices.
Mineral and petroleum products accounted for 16% of Estonia’s imports in the first three quarters of 2021, compared with 19.9% in 2022.
In 3rd and 4th place in 2022, we find metal products (EUR 1.86 bn, +34%) and transport equipment (EUR 1.72 bn, +16%).

Trade is primarily regional and European

Estonian foreign trade is highly integrated at regional level.
Indeed, the main trading partners for goods were neighboring countries in the first three quarters of 2022 (six in the country’s top ten partners).
First and foremost is Finland, by far the most important trading partner, accounting for 15% of the country’s trade, to the tune of EUR 5.2 billion.
In second place, we find Latvia, with trade amounting to 3.95 billion EUR, or 11% of Estonia’s total trade in 2022.

Other neighboring countries in the top ten are Lithuania (3rd with EUR 2.88 bn, 8%), Sweden (4th with EUR 2.78 bn, 9.2%), Russia (6th with EUR 2.11 bn, 6%, as European sanctions had not yet come into force) and Poland (7th with EUR 1.69 bn, 5%).
All in all, more than half of Estonia’s trade is with neighboring countries (54% of trade), up 3 points on the first half of 2021, with Germany (5th; EUR 2.74 bn; 8%), the Netherlands (8th; EUR 1.34 bn; 4%), the USA (9th; EUR 1.18 bn; 3%), and Denmark (10th; EUR 767 m; 2%).

As the top ten illustrates, Estonia is very much part of the European bloc (8 partners in the top 10 are EU members).
In the first three quarters of 2022, total trade between Estonia and the rest of the EU amounted to 26.4 billion EUR, or 77% of Estonia’s total trade.
Exports to the EU reached 11.6 billion EUR in the first half of the year, up 22% on the first three quarters of 2021.
Imports from member states amounted to EUR 14.8 billion, up 30%.
Estonia recorded a trade deficit with the EU of EUR 3.2 bn in the first three quarters of 2022, compared with EUR 1.9 bn in 2021.

Bilateral trade relations with France: balanced, limited trade

Bilateral trade with France grew markedly between 2021 and 2022.
Indeed, trade between Estonia and France reached 569M EUR in the first three quarters of 2022, compared with 513M EUR over the same period in 2021.
This represents an increase of 16% in one year, less than other countries, which drops France to Estonia’s 14th trading partner.
Estonian exports to France totaled 301M EUR, up 22% on the first three quarters of 2021.
Imports from France, on the other hand, rose by 11% year-on-year to 295M EUR for the first three quarters of 2022.
This means that Estonia’s trade balance with France is almost balanced, with a trade deficit of just 6M EUR.

Estonia’s main export to France is timber and timber products, worth 76.8M EUR in the first three quarters of 2022.
These products accounted for 28% of Estonian exports to France.
The other main export sectors to France are machinery and electronic equipment (57.6M EUR; 21% of exports to France), and chemical and industrial products (45.6M EUR; 17%).
Overall, the main sectors of the Estonian economy exported less to France in 2022 than in 2021, with the exception of the wood sector (+26%) and the seeds sector, which rose by a staggering 1827% (from 0.7M EUR, 0% in 2021 to 11.49M EUR, 4% in 2022.

Conversely, Estonia imports from France mainly transport equipment (98.6M EUR; 29% of imports), metal products (65.9M EUR; 19%) and chemical products (55.2M EUR; 16%).
Estonian imports from France rose by 22% compared with the first three quarters of 2021.
This increase was mainly driven by metal products (+99%).

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