OREANDA-NEWS. November 28, 2012. Many companies in Viljandi County are planning to be active on export markets next year and to create jobs in conjunction with that, a flash survey of business clients in the county, conducted by SEB, indicates, reported the press-centre of SEB.  

Growth on existing export markets is being planned by 22 per cent of the 27 companies that completed the survey. Entry onto new markets is being planned by 19 per cent. These are mainly industrial companies also planning product innovation.

Turnover growth is being foreseen by 85 per cent of the companies, with some companies with high growth ambitions foreseeing growth of more than 15 per cent.

Of the respondents, 30 per cent are planning to hire more staff, with the number of employed in Viljandi County set to grow by at least 21 people next year thanks to the companies polled in the survey. Staff growth is primarily linked to the ambition to enter new markets or grow in existing markets.

Investments next year are being planned by 70 per cent of the clients polled by SEB, with 48 per cent of all the companies intending to invest more than EUR 30 000.

Innovation activities in products or services are being planned by 33 per cent of the respondents, and 22 per cent of the respondents wish to allocate resources to developing and training their staff.

This October and November, SEB is carrying out an ambitious consultancy project that will see the bank’s representatives call on approximately 900 of Estonia’s small and medium-size enterprises, in all 15 counties. They will be travelling Estonia’s roads in ten Smart minis decked out in SEB’s livery, which will also serve as a reminder about the importance of green transport.
As part of the consultancy project, SEB will also conduct a survey asking companies in the counties to estimate their developments in turnover, changes in staff numbers, export and innovation plans, and proposed investments in 2013.