Why Pärnu region?

Why Pärnu region?

Pärnu is the city of opportunity and experience

Pärnu has become an internationally known city with an open attractive investment and business environment, which supports and values businesses opportunities for internationalization and technology development.

The 180 year old holiday resort has focused on specific fields, which have strong points and room for growth. Some very prosperous business subjects are tourism economy (includes health service and environmental protection), social services, timber industry, metalworking and infotechnology.

Position of Pärnu on the map also gives the investors the possibility to have access to the surrounding market of more than 90 million people. It is also very close to some important cities such as Helsinki or Sankt Petersburg.

The first half of 2018 sales revenue of companies (with more than 20 employees) in the manufacturing industry was about 276 million EUR. The most important industries include:

  • Metal Works, engineering and electronics industries
  • Chemical and plastics industry
  • Textile, clothing and footwear industries
  • Timber and furniture industries
  • Food industry – fish processing companies

About Pärnu

Population of the Pärnu County is about 88 000 people

Population of the city is about 52 000 people

7 municipalities after administrative reform:

  • Pärnu City
  • Tori Parish
  • Häädemeeste Parish
  • Saarde Parish
  • Lääneranna Parish
  • Põhja- Pärnumaa Parish
  • Kihnu Parish

Pärnu County is Estonia’s largest county by area with 4,807 km2.

Distances from Pärnu by road:
Tallinn 129 km,
Riga 189 km
Helsinki 210 km
St. Petersburg 459 km

Natural resources: Timber, peat, gravel, dolomite, clay.

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Economy

Today Pärnu is an economically balanced region with a comprehensive range of industries. Foreign investments and new businesses with up-to-date technologies have enhanced job creation and higher competitiveness of the businesses in the world markets. Several enterprises of Pärnu region stand out as the best in Estonia which makes them reliable business partners for companies all over the world. Today the region is economically balanced with a comprehensive range of industries.

Economic activity has been successful in a number of fields having greatly influenced the region’s prosperity. Beautiful nature and secure environment make Pärnu region a most favorable place for people to work and live.

The economy of Pärnu region has great potential. There are a lot of companies looking out for partnerships, there is land and human resources available to set up an efficient business.

Pärnu region is rich in several natural resources. As 54% of the territory is forested and 23% is marsh and bogland, timber and peat appear the most important resources, followed by the sand, gravel and clay from quarries. The forest areas cover 259,000 hectares which is more than a half of the county territory. The most common species of trees are pine, birch, spruce, aspen and alder.

The woods of Pärnu region are slow to grow and therefore the logs cut there are of high quality and can be used for multiple purposes. Local timber is used for manufacturing veneer, fiberboard, windows and doors, furniture, log houses and prefabricated houses.

Since one fourth of the region’s territory is marsh and bog land, peat is by far the main mineral here processed in six bogs. Peat excavated in Pärnu county is highly valued, it has accumulated over 100,000 years and has very good chemical and physical characteristics. The peat is mainly used to produce substrates and fertilizers for gardening.

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, perch and pike. The fish are processed and the products are exported to Western and Central European countries. The perch and pike fillets are a highly regarded gourmet food in Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

Education

The region has a wide range of educational opportunities at all levels. The schools offer good quality comprehensive education and provide their students with up-to-date ICT and foreign language skills.

 

Pärnu College, University of Tartu

Pärnu College is a part of the University of Tartu which belongs to the top 3% of world’s best universities. Pärnu College is focused on Service Management teaching business administration, project management and service design methods to people interested in tourism industry, social work, sport management etc.

The college offers three degree programs:

  • Entrepreneurship and Project Management
  • Tourism and Hotel Management
  • Social Work and Rehabilitation Administration

and two master’s programs

  • Service Design and Management
  • Wellness and Spa Service Design and Management (in English)

The number of students in college is around 580 including 20-30 international students from 20 different countries. Since 1996 over 2600 students have graduated Pärnu College.
Pärnu College, University of Tartu

 

Pärnu Vocational Education Centre

Provides vocational training in twenty-two specialities. In recent years significant developments have been made at the Centre, the training premises have been renovated, new workshops and classrooms built to provide learning opportunities for over 1,200 students. Good cooperation has been established with the region’s employers, leading to the development of many further education and re-skilling courses. Courses like Maker of Electronic Devices (electronics) and Assembler (machinery and metalworking) were developed in close cooperation with region’s companies.
Pärnu Vocational Education Centre

 

German Technological School of Pärnu is specialised in:

  • Electrical engineering
  • Accounting and taxation
  • Management and administration
  • Multimedia Design.

German Technological School of Pärnu

Living environment

The beautiful, natural and safe environment makes Pärnu region a particularly favorable place for people to live and work. People prefer to come rather than to leave the Pärnu region since there are good opportunities for education and work and numerous arts and cultural events. In recent years many new homes have been built to house the increasing numbers of people arriving to settle down here.

The city is rich in historic parks and alleys, which create a great atmosphere for recreation. Pärnu is particularly famous for its south-facing sandy beach, one of the most beautiful on the Baltic Sea. With a rich natural, historic and cultural heritage to explore, the sea, the beach and the forests provide a huge variety of opportunities for holidaying and rehabilitation.

Resort and tourist activities date back to 1838 when the first bathing institution was founded and the resort of Pärnu has been hosting holidaymakers from throughout the world ever since. Its long tradition as a resort and place for recuperation has made Pärnu well known in Finland, other Scandinavian countries and in Russia. There are six spas and rehabilitation centres and numerous hotels with more than 4,000 beds to book round the year.

Since 1996 Pärnu has enjoyed the status of the Summer Capital of Estonia. Particularly in the hottest months of the year – from June until August – there is more to see and do and more cultural events in the summer capital than anywhere else in Estonia. Summertime Pärnu is the place where one meets old acquaintances and makes new friends with other people enjoying the summer.

For more information about Pärnu

The 4 strengths of the location

The Port of Pärnu – logistics, trade, tourism, recreation

Is located in the south-western part of Estonia at the mouth of the Pärnu river and it has lately become a considerable regional port of South-Western and Southern Estonia. Ships may enter the port if their maximum length is 148 m, width is 45 m and declared depth is 6.0 m.

Number of quays – 7 cargo quays with a total length of ca 700 m.

For loading/unloading we have 4 mobile cranes with range up to 22 m.

Port Pärnu inaugurated its new cruise ship facility in 2017.

 

Pärnu Airport – local flights, freights, private aviation

Pärnu Airport that is based on the former military airfield is Estonia’s second largest by runway length and size. The airport is located three kilometres from the City of Pärnu.

In addition to domestic regular flights, Pärnu is also used for private and charter flights to other countries. Pärnu airfield is very suitable for private aviation, use by aviation clubs, aviation and parachuting sports, air cargo transport and organizing various open-air events.

 

The Via Baltica – to the heart of Europe.

European route E 67, known as the Via Baltica between Warsaw and Tallinn, passes the city of Pärnu and constitutes the principal connection between Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.

 

Rail Baltic – major project, which unites

Rail Baltica is one of the priority projects of the European Union: Trans-European Transport Networks. The project is supposed to link Finland, the Baltic States and Poland and also improve the connection between Central and Northern Europe and Germany. The route is estimated to be completed by 2026.

Next: Key economic sectors