Supporting entrepreneurship

Narva is the largest city in the North-East of Estonia and with its 66,000 inhabitants rates third largest in the country. The city has long-standing industrial traditions. The strongest industrial enterprises of Estonia in the areas of energy production, textile, mechanical engineering, wood and metal-processing are located in the industrial zone of Narva.

For the last few years Narva has been actively involved in the processes of development of its industrial areas. In addition to the industrial park "Intec-Nakro", which has been operating successfully for 10 years already, two more parks have been established in the past 2 years: Narva industrial park and the industrial park "Narova". The main objectives for the creation of the parks were support of the development of the industrial enterprises of the city, attraction of additional investments, organization of new businesses, which in turn, should trigger the increase in workplaces in the industrial sector, and help solve both economic and social problems.

Narva works in close cooperation with the municipalities of Ida-Viru county (Sillamäe, Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve and Kiviõli). The result of such cooperation has materialized in the establishment of the special-purpose organization "Development of Ida-Viru industrial zones" where the state is one of the stakeholders. The purpose of this "umbrella" organization is to attract investments and create workplaces in the industrial sector of the county and Narva specifically, making use of the industrial land owned by the state.

At the times of economic downturn it becomes crucial to be able to provide support to the beginner-entrepreneurs, the people who have both wish and desire to start their own business.

The city has been an active supporter, allocating funds for the realization of the entrepreneurs'projects, their participation in the fairs, and organization of seminars in order to increase their competencies in business. In 2009, the city has been nominated in the Estonian contest of the "European Enterprise Award" in the category "Improvement of the Business Environment", where it was granted the title "The best actor in the development of entrepreneurship".