The 2021 state budget bill has passed its second reading at the Riigikogu. The bill puts state budget expenditures at EUR 13 billion and revenues at EUR 11 billion and is based also on Ministry of Finance forecasts for Estonia’s GDP to rise by 4.5% in 2021, having been projected to fall by 5.5% this…
Representatives of supermarket chains confirmed that they were better prepared for the second wave of COVID-19 when it comes to disinfectants and personal protective equipment (PPE). At the same time, people are more relaxed and do not hoard provisions as in spring. Searching for disinfectants in spring led many people on a tour of Estonian…
The information technology and communications sector was the least hit by the first wave of the coronavirus in spring, while accommodation providers, caterers and travel agents found themselves in the most difficult situation. This means Estonia is entering the second wave in a vulnerable position, a report by the Riigikogu Foresight Center concludes. The center’s…
In the third quarter, there were 54,300 unemployed persons in Estonia, up by 4,900 QoQ, data from Statistics Estonia showed. The labor force participation rate was 71.8%, the employment rate was 66.3% and the unemployment rate was 7.7%. Leading analyst at Statistics Estonia Eveli Voolens said the unemployment rate was 3.8% higher than in the…
Finnish shipping line Eckero has added an extra, early morning service, using its MS Finbo Cargo ferry and plying the route between Muuga, east of Tallinn, and Vuosaari, near Helsinki. The early departure leaves Muuga at 6.30 a.m. and arrives at Vuosaari at 9.15 a.m. The service has been running since early November. “Eckero Line’s…
The finance committee of the Estonian parliament at a sitting on November 10 voted on the amendments submitted to next year’s state budget and agreed to send the draft to the second reading at a plenary sitting on November 18. Finance committee chairman Aivar Kokk said the 44 proposed amendments were discussed and a consolidated…
Exports of goods increased by 11$%, while imports fell by 4% YoY in September, the state agency Statistics Estonia reported. The third quarter saw a 1% fall in exports and a 5% fall in imports. In September, both exports and imports of goods amounted to EUR 1.3 billion at current prices, Statistics Estonia said, and…