Läänemaa, Estonia

GENERAL INFORMATION

Region name: LÄÄNEMAA COUNTY

Läänemaa population as of 01.07.2009 is 27 606. 14 348 women and 13 258 men.

The area of Läänemaa is 2 383 km2, which makes 5,3% of Estonian territory. The county has 237 smaller and bigger islands and a coastline of 400 km.
Läänemaa (=Westland) County is divided into 12 smaller communities: 1 town (Haapsalu) and 11 municipalities: Ridala, Oru, Taebla, Risti, Martna, Kullamaa, Hanila, Nõva, Noarootsi, Vormsi and Lihula municipality.
Läänemaa County is restful, yet offering great diversity in its nature and culture. Unspoiled nature, many historic monuments marking the long periods of past wars, the nearly 200 year long tradition of a health resort, and unique cultural events are the treasures of the county.
Haapsalu town is the centre of the county.
According to the official data of 2009  there are 7 elementary schools (1574 students), 11 secondary schools (1082 students), 7 high schools 872 students), 2 special needs schools, 1 vocational school and 1 higher education institution in Läänemaa County.
Resources: http://www.lmv.ee/, Läänemaa portal http://www.laanemaa.ee/, http://www.haapsalu.ee/

An overview of enterpreneurship in Läänemaa
As of the 1st of August 2009 2183 business associations have been registered in Läänemaa, including 800 self-employed enterpreneurs (37%) and 1263 limited-liability companies (58%). According to the data from Statistics Office (from 20.04.2009) 35% of the businesses are located in Haapsalu town,14% in Ridala municipality, 11% in Lihula municipality and 7% in Taebla municipality. The companies registered in Haapsalu town were according to the Statistics Office in 2008 mainly engaged in wholesale and other trading, vehicle repair, construction and manufacturing industry.  In Ridala, Lihula and Taebla townships the registered companies were mostly engaged in agriculture, forestry, fishing, wholesale and other trading, vehicle repair, construction and manufacturing industry. The main companies active in Läänemaa are small or medium enterprises. 90% of enterprises have less than 10 employees. 8% of enterprises have 11-49 employees.

Läänemaa Development Centre’s enterpreneurship consultant (http://www.laanemaa.ee/) has emphasised that the recent tendency among small enterprises in Läänemaa is to merge and look for new markets, also abroad.  The greatest contributers to Läänemaa employment rate and also active in international markets are industries producing wood, food, recreation services and light industries. The attaractiveness of Läänemaa is most of all connected to tourism and recreation. This image has been greatly helped by good marketing and Haapsalu popularisation as a good place to spend the holidays.

For the further development of Läänemaa it is important to maintain the existing industries as well as work on the actualisation of new industries.

Unemployment rate in Läänemaa has recently shown a rising trend. If on 31.12.2008 there were 584 registered unemployed in Läänemaa then by 31.08.2009 this rate was 1407.

Many Läänemaa enterpreneurs are actively seeking new possibilities and innovative solutions for bringing their companies forward. Since 2004 Läänemaa enterpreneurs have received the following support from Enterpreneurship Development Fund: starting support, training support, counselling, product development and marketing support for tourism enterprises, export development support, trade fair participation support, research and development support. The more active applicants for support have been: Haapsalu Kuurort AS, Heal AS, Am Fitness OÜ, Eesti Lindsaw OÜ, Haapsalu Uksetehase AS, K.MET AS, Nedholm Design OÜ, PVMP-EX OÜ, Swedest Motel Group AS, Tradex AS, UM Components AS.

Complied by: Eva Makienko, Mari Kerde