The three Baltic States have joined the G7’s Declaration of Support for Ukraine, ERR reports. The declaration aims to provide Ukraine with sustained political, military, financial, and economic assistance through bilateral agreements. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte expressed their “unwavering support” for Ukraine until…
Estonia’s current account deficit stood at EUR 20.1mn in June 2023, compared to a deficit of EUR 92.4mn in June 2022, according to the Bank of Estonia’s flash estimate, ERR reports. Exports and imports of goods both fell by 10%, while service exports rose by 3% and imports by 2% over a year. The services…
The Baltic banking group, Luminor Bank, made a net profit of EUR 53.2mn in the second quarter of 2023, which was up 81% from the same period of 2022, ERR reports. The group attributed the sharp rise in profit to an improvement in net interest income. Meanwhile, operating expenses increased by 72% amid investments in…
The Estonian Tax and Customs Board (EMTA) collected EUR 6.12bn in taxes in the first half of 2023, which was 4.8% more than in the same period of 2022, ERR reports. State budget revenue amounted to 47.4% of the annual budget target. Social tax revenue rose by 12.2%, personal income tax revenue by 11.7%, and…
Estonia should strengthen cooperation with Taiwan and consider opening a Taiwanese representative office (Taipei Mission) in Tallinn, Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, stated, ERR reports. Speaking after a joint visit by the heads of the foreign affairs committees of Baltic parliaments to Taiwan, Mihkelson noted that…
The number of foreign tourists visiting Estonia totalled 1,110,431 in the second quarter of 2023, which was up 19% from the same period of 2022, according to data from the Bank of Estonia, ERR reports. Foreign tourists spent a total of EUR 375mn in Estonia, which was EUR 62mn more than a year earlier. Meanwhile,…
Estonia’s state-owned port operator, Port of Tallinn (Tallinna Sadam), generated sales revenue of EUR 57mn in the first half of 2023, which was almost unchanged from a year earlier, ERR reports. The port’s adjusted EBITDA fell by 12% from a year earlier. Net profit stood at EUR 7mn, which was down 42% over a year….
Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, posted the highest ever revenue and profit in the company’s history in the first half of 2023, LSM reports. The company’s six-month revenue totalled EUR 291mn, which was up 52% from a year earlier. Net profit amounted to EUR 14.6mn, which was up sharply from a net loss of EUR…
The state budget control select committee of Estonia’s parliament, the Riigikogu, held an extraordinary session on 8 August 2023 to discuss a controversy over alleged “horse trading” by the Office of the President, ERR reports. Earlier, presidential adviser Toomas Sildam had an informal discussion with Merike Saks, secretary general of the Ministry of Finance, in…