Key economic sectors

The long industrial traditions of the Pärnu region extend back to 1832 from which point on the favourable location of the city has received much praise – the nearness to Finland, Sweden and Latvia as well as the western part of Russia, which is complemented by a good connection with Central Europe, has brought many international electronics, timber, metal and textile businesses to the city.

In more recent times, investments into Via Baltics as well as other roads, the railway connection and the renewal of Pärnu port have all greatly benefited the growth of the attractiveness of the business environment. The supporting urban area can also not be underestimated, as its natural and cultural diversity make Pärnu a great place where to live and work.

Metal Works

The metal industry of the Pärnu region has a long historical background due to the activity of Pärnu’s KEK (Construction Office of the Kolkhoz) and Machine Factory. Many small businesses have been established in the area, of whom a number have subsequently grown into larger ones.

The large number of businesses indicates merger opportunities for companies with foreign as well as domestic capital in order to benefit effectiveness, innovation, and product development and production capabilities.

There are around 50 metalworking companies and they employ close to 700 workers.

The most important products from this sector are metal constructions, products for the automobile, railway and energy industries (Scania, ABB) and components for the electronics industry.

Metal Works Companies

Electronics

The first companies involved in electronics were established in the Pärnu region after Estonian reindependence, in the middle of the 1990’s. Since then the electronics sector has hastily grown thanks to foreign investment with the result that most of the businesses in this area of industry have by now become manufacturing units of large groups. Over the years, simpler projects have been replaced by more sophisticated manufacturing.

Electronics businesses employ more than 1000 people.

The most important products from this sector are network and electronics equipment and computer and telecommunications equipment.

Electronic companies

Wood

Pärnu region encompasses 30% of the forest resources of Estonia, which is the reason why forestry and wood processing industries have traditionally been associated with this region. The companies of the timber sector are a major presence according to their number of employees as well as the volume of industrial output.

The timber sector of the Pärnu region has gradually moved from production of material (sawmills) to production of final products (furniture, log houses, module houses, other timber products).

The most important products from this sector are lumber, planed wood, furniture, boards, log houses and module houses.

Textile

A textile sector of traditional significance is also active in Pärnu region. Along with the sewing of clothes, many home furnishing products are made – blankets, pillows, soft parts of furniture. Of the region’s sectors, the textile industry is fourth in terms of sales revenue and export figures. Sewing work also helps provide women with employment in rural areas. With the refining of exports, design, digital design, and product development are being added to sewing work.

Tekstiili ettevõtted

ICT

Estonia is one of the most digital countries in the world, it’s not just an ambitious marketing slogan. Today, Estonians take e-govemment for granted, software engineering is regarded as a cool occupation, and kids start up tech companies before taking their A-levels.

The electronic ID card, an important foundation of Estonia’s information society that enabled secure implementation of e-solutions, celebrates its 15th birthday. The first ID cards were issued in 2002. The ID card is used as the national health insurance card and as a document to verify a person’s identity when they log in to an electronic environment. Additionally, a person can use their ID card to participate in e-voting, sign documents digitally, use e-prescriptions and e-banking services. Companies can also use the ID card as a loyalty card. The Estonian ID card was also used to digitally sign the first-ever cross-border state-level contract with Finland.

E-Residency is a new digital nation for global citizens. Estonia is the first country to offer e-Resi- dency, a government-issued digital ID available to anyone in the world. E-Residency offers the freedom to easily start and manage a global business in a trusted EU environment. You can register an EU-based company entirely online. Access business banking and online payment providers to accept payments from customers and clients worldwide. Digitally sign contracts and other documents. For more information: e-resident.gov.ee

IT companies

Tourism and Hospitality business

Pärnu’s fame as a rehabilitation and holiday resort dates back to the middle of the 19th century. The foundation of the first bathing facility in 1838 is considered the birth date of Pärnu resort. Today Pärnu has all desirable qualities of a modern holiday resort – it has spas and rehabilitation centres, hotels, conference and concert venues, golf courses and tennis courts, restaurants and pubs.

Since 1996 Pärnu enjoys the status of the Summer Capital of Estonia. Especially in the hottest months of the year – from June till August there is more entertainment and more cultural events than elsewhere in Estonia.

The resort of Pärnu has been hosting holiday-makers from the whole world ever since. Long tradition of as a resort has made Pärnu well known in Finland and other Scandinavian countries, in Latvia and in Russia.

There are six spas and rehabilitation centres and plenty of hotels with more than 4000 beds to book round the year. Medical care and rehabilitation services are in high demand both with local and visiting population.

Pärnu is a perfect conference and seminar venue. There are various conference facilities and ample experience in hosting international conferences. Participants and presenters are quaranteed a pleasant conference experience with various audiovisual and simultaneous interpretation facilities.

Just in the outskirts of Pärnu there are two top-quality golf courses meeting the international standards – Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Tahkuranna and White Beach Golf Course in Valgeranna.

Tourism companies

Construction materials

In history there are trends in building materials from being natural to becoming more man-made and composite; biodegradable to imperishable; indigenous (local) to being transported globally; repairable to disposable; chosen for increased levels of fire-safety, and improved seismic resistance.

Ruukki, one the biggest Construction material solutions company offers a wide range of sustainable products and services, such as frame structures, sandwich panels and facade claddings, including design tools, tailored solutions, advanced designs and excellent project management.

Vecta design focuses on producing Stretch ceilings, which is an excellent material because it can be installed quickly and without removing the furniture out of the room. The ceiling is installed in one piece and installation work is made without any construction debris or mess.

Kodu Kuubis is a company that produces straw panels. Straw panels are a natural construction material, consisting of extruded wheat straw surrounded on all sides by recycled paper. Straw panels ensure an excellent and healthy microclimate for a building via temperature and air humidity regulation, while also serving as an excellent sound insulator. The panels can be used for building walls, ceilings and floors in both old and new houses. Straw panels can also be used in saunas and bathrooms.

Construction material companies

Food and fish

Food has been a priority for years in the development of the Pärnu County area that can be seen in the abundance of food-related events in the area that fill the whole year. Pärnu Restaurant Week and Pärnu Cafe Week take place in April and in fall respectively. There are many large a small food producers in the area who use fresh and local ingredients grown without chemicals and fertilizers.

Pärnu region being located at the Baltic Sea, has a coastline of 242 km and therefore fishing has a long history here. The fishermen mainly catch Baltic herring, Baltic sprat, pearch and pike. The Fish are processed and the products are exported to Westeren and and Central European countries. The pearch and pike fillets are a highly regarded gourmet food in Astria, Switzerland and Germany.

Fish companies

Stone industry

Natural stone is always different, unique, long lasting and elegant.

Edelstein processes and polishes stone surfaces to give them their own individual and long-lasting character. Finished stone surfaces are used to cover walls and floors and kitchen surfaces. The advantages of stone products, in addition to their original look, are their durability and immutability.

Edelstein´s best known products are kitchen surfaces and sinks. Kitchen surfaces made from natural stone are becoming more and more popular among consumers. Stone sinks have been made inter alia for the world´s biggest cruise liners.

Polishing of stone surfaces is mainly done by hand. Edelstein´s workers are experts in all kind of stone work as well as very unique handwork finishing techniques. As raw material, different granites, marbels and limestone are mainly used.