The Marketing and Member Relations Department continued its regular active organising of events in order to find new and keep the existing members.
The Marketing and Member Relations Department continued its regular active organising of events in order to find new and keep the existing members.
Spring ball
The traditional spring ball of the Chamber of Commerce took place at the Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn on 12 April and was dedicated to Estonia which reached its dignified 90th jubilee. As the tradition goes, the badges of honour of the Chamber of Commerce were awarded at the ball. For the board of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry it is a possibility to highlight and recognize the entrepreneurs, managers and officials who have contributed significantly to the development of Estonian entrepreneurship and economy.
For the special services in developing Estonian entrepreneurship the I class badge of honour was given to Jaan Kabin (EKE Invest AS) and Ülo Pärnits (Mainor AS, Ülemiste City AS) and for the long-term development of the construction area, to Alar Kroodo (Linnaehitus AS). The II class badge of honour for promoting Estonian business and for the contribution in protecting the interests of Estonian employers was given to the head of the Estonian Employers Confederation Tarmo Kriis and chairman of the board of Eesti Raudtee AS Kaido Simmermann for promoting Estonian business life and entrepreneurship and developing the transport and transit area. The badge of honour of class III was granted for the long-term and fruitful work in developing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the employee of the Chamber of Commerce Lidia Friedenthal and additionally for developing educational policy, to Tiia Randma. Furthermore, for special services in promoting business life and entrepreneurship and for developing cooperation between the public sector and entrepreneurs, to Lemmi Oro (Head of the Tax Policy Department f the Ministry of Finance) and Urmas Volens (Undersecretary for Legal Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The participants were entertained by the Police Orchestra Big Band by the conduction of Kaido Kodumäe, solo performances were given by Rolf Roosalu and Nele-Liis Vaiksoo. Peeter Kaljumäe played in the salon and dance steps were shown and taught on the dance floor by the professional dancers of Kristine Esko-Veskimäe dance school NOVE. The jubilee exhibition of the Estonian National Museum “Estonian pride. Made in Estonia” which introduced production and produce of thirteen Estonian companies and consumption of these products through three historical periods (Republic of Estonia 1918-1940, Soviet Estonia 1940-1991 and Republic of Estonia 1991-2007).
The host of the evening was Tauri Tallermaa. Return flights to freely chosen locations for two given by Estonian Air were drawn between the participants.
From its re-founding in 1989 to today the Chamber of Commerce has awarded the badge of honour in total to 65 persons.
The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the supporters of the Spring Ball: SEB Pank, Estonian Air, Silberauto, Reval Hotel Olümpia, Overall, Prike, Paulig, Dance school NOVE, Iloprint, Disainikorp.
Opening of the Business Season
This year the opening of the Business Season 2008/2009 of the Chamber of Commerce took place at the Tallinn Zoo in order to support the efforts of the zoo in rescuing endangered species and at the same time we called on our member companies to support the aspirations of the zoo. The sunny weather of 30 August brought to the event amazingly many representatives of the members and co-operation partners of the Chamber of Commerce – nearly 2500 persons had come to open the business season. The business season was declared open by Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce Toomas Luman, the welcoming words of the Tallinn Zoo were said by Director Mati Kaal and representative of the Association of Friends of the Tallinn Zoo Ülo Kotkas. Many activities were offered for adults as well as children. The event also featured the traditional business card lottery that kept things exciting until the end of the event. Nice prizes given by our co-operation partners were won, the main prize was a travel voucher to Amsterdam for two given by Estravel and Finnair.
The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the supporters of the opening of the Business Season: SEB Pank, Estravel, Finnair, Silberauto, Tallinn Zoo, Reval Hotels, Firmakink, A. Le Coq, Premia Tallinna Külmhoone, Olde Hansa, AIESEC, Labour Market Board, Estonian Heart Association, Iloprint, Disainikorp.
Business Breakfasts
In cooperation with the Nordea bank and Radisson SAS hotel we continued the series of business breakfasts during which the members of the Chamber of Commerce had a good opportunity to meet the speakers and get answers to their questions.
The opening event of the business breakfasts of 2008 was “Good Morning, Russia!” which took place on 27 March and was dedicated to introducing the Russian business environment and business opportunities. Head of the division of international companies of Orgresbank Esa Teräväinen spoke about business in Russia on the basis of the experiences of Nordea and Orgresbank and the general economic environment and real estate market of Russia was introduced by head of the real estate financing department of Orgresbank Alexander S. Sergeenko.
Business breakfast on the topic of money markets Situation and Prospects on Financial Markets took place on 28 November. The current situation in economy and possible scenarios were described by the head of Nordea Pank Eesti Vahur Kraft. Chief sales manager of financial markets of Nordea Pank Tõnu Palm spoke of the situation on financial markets and possible outlooks for coming out of the crisis.
The last business breakfast of the year “Future – capitalism without capital meets communism without communes” (paraphrasing Marx) took place on 19 December. The speaker on that event was the professor of macro economy of the Hong Kong Chinese University Leslie Young, who explained the paradox arising from the financial crisis (the United States are forced to nationalise their banking system but China is moving towards the market economy), contrasting the economic cycles of the recent past and the institutional structures of the United States and China.
The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the supporters of the Business Breakfasts: Nordea Pank Eesti and Radisson SAS Hotel.
Tennis Tournament
The 12th Tennis Tournament of the Chamber of Commerce took place on the on the tennis courts of the centre of Pärnu on 31 May. The participants were 44 tennis lovers from member companies. The Tournament was successful in every way: the weather was excellent and the company of nice people and enjoyable game pleased the participants as well as the spectators. The winners of the cup were Jüri Vellerand (Universal Industries OÜ) and Tiit Roben (E.L.L Kinnisvara AS). Before this year’s win Jüri Vellerand has won the Chamber of Commerce Tennis Tournament already three times. The prize of the consolation tournament was given to the pair Toomas Kuuda (Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry)/Katrin Mühls (E.L.L. Kinnisvara AS).
The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the supporters of the Tennis Tournament: SEB Pank, Silberauto, Estonian Air, Stockman, Reval Hotels, Strand SPA & Conference Hotel, Tele2, Dunlop, Saku and A.Le Coq.
Other events
On 23 April the general meeting of the members of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry took place at the Chamber of Commerce in Tallinn during which the annual report of the financial year 2007 was approved and new board was elected. Toomas Luman was re-elected as the president.
On 3 June the board of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the President of the Republic of Estonia Toomas-Hendrik Ilves at a gala lunch. During the lunch discussions were held over actual topics in Estonian life and economy. The President was first and foremost interested in the opinion of the entrepreneurs of the two first years in the European Union and whether it has had an important impact on their economic results. According to the president of the Chamber of Commerce nearly a third of our fast economic growth of the year 2005 can be considered as a result of accession to the EU. The members of the Board of the Chamber in turn introduced to the President a proposal for preserving the current corporate income tax system from 2009 by focusing on stability of the economic environment and maintaining attractiveness of the investment environment. Longer discussions were held over decrease of population and population growth which already today are becoming an obstacle for development of Estonian companies.
As during the earlier years there were 4 events for the reception of the new members during which the membership certificates were given in a festive atmosphere (in 2008 the Chamber of Commerce gained 376 new members). The meeting evenings with the house and employees of the Chamber of Commerce and other new member companies became for many the first opportunity to find co-operation partners.
The festive reception of the 83rd anniversary of the Chamber of Commerce for the cooperation partners took place on 13 November in the hall of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. The President of the Republic Toomas Hendrik Ilves attended as well.
In relation to the 90th jubilee year of the Republic of Estonia the Chamber of Commerce was a co-organiser of the conference Estonian Entrepreneurship 90 which took place on 20 November at the hall of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. The aim of the conference was to value the long-term tradition of Estonian entrepreneurship, assess the current situation and make plans for the future. The president of the Chamber of Commerce presented on the behalf of the entrepreneurs a package of proposals for advancement of the economic environment addressed to the Government of the Republic. At this conference the Chamber of Commerce introduced for the first time the gift book on acknowledge brands of Estonia Leading Brands of Estonia compiled during the jubilee year.
