OREANDA-NEWS. December 11, 2012. Companies in Laane-Viru County that are clients of SEB are foreseeing turnover growth in their plans for 2013, a flash survey of corporate clients in the county conducted by SEB indicates, reported the press-centre of SEB.

Nearly all of the companies that completed the survey are predicting an increase in their turnovers, with approximately 20 per cent believing that their turnovers will increase by more than 15 per cent. Exporting companies take a more optimistic view of their turnover growth, whereas increases up to 10 per cent are foreseen mainly by farmers.

Of the 41 companies that responded in Laane-Viru County, 39 per cent are planning to increase their activity on export markets next year. Twenty-four per cent of all the companies polled are intending to enter new markets, with several of them planning product or service innovation.

Of the companies polled by SEB in the county, 69 per cent are planning investments in the coming year; with 49 per cent planning investments in excess of EUR 30 000.

Product or service innovation is being planned for next year by 71 per cent of the respondents. Innovation is likely to be included in the plans of small or medium-size companies with turnovers of EUR 650 000 to MEUR 2, with more than two-thirds of them being farmers.

New staff hires are being planned by 29 per cent of the respondents and, based on the survey sample, the creation of at least 17 new jobs may be expected in Laane-Viru County. No changes in the number of their employees were reported by 63 per cent of the respondents.

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.