Economic ties between the two countries are stronger than ever

On 14th of July, the French National Day, Estonia also has reason to celebrate: total trade in goods and services between Estonia and France reached a record €1.2 billion in 2025, while the overall trade balance shifted in Estonia's favour. Estonian exports to France grew by 17% year over year, driven primarily by business and IT services. The strengthening economic relationship between the two countries is also reflected in Estonia's e-Residency programme: more than 6,400 French citizens have become Estonian e-residents and have established 2,300 companies in Estonia.

According to a report published in June by the French Ministry for the Economy and Finance (DG Trésor), trade between the two countries increased by 11% over the year. Trade in services has grown particularly rapidly: Estonia's exports of services to France (€265 million) significantly exceed France's exports of services to Estonia (€165 million). 

More than half of Estonia's service exports consist of business services, while information and communication technology accounts for another 17%. The growth in service exports is being driven both by contracts won by Estonian technology companies in the French market and by services provided by international companies operating in Estonia. In its analysis, the ministry concludes that Estonia is increasingly establishing itself as an important technology partner for France.

"These numbers show that the relationship between Estonia and France is no longer based solely on security and diplomatic cooperation, but is increasingly becoming a close economic partnership. As a small country, we sell more to one of Europe's largest economies than we buy from it – this is a clear sign of the competitiveness of Estonian companies and services," said Viljar Lubi, Estonia's Ambassador to France.

One of the engines behind the growth is Estonia's e-Residency programme. In 2025, the number of e-Residency applications from France increased by 56%, and in recent months France has consistently ranked among the top three countries worldwide by number of applications. To date, more than 6,400 French citizens have become Estonian e-residents and have established approximately 2,300 companies in Estonia. Technology is the leading sector: around 19% of French e-residents work in software development, while consulting and management businesses are also strongly represented.

"French entrepreneurs have established more than 2,000 companies in Estonia. These are real, operating businesses with customers across Europe and around the world," said Kristiina Kalda, the French market lead for Estonia's e-Residency programme. "More than one million new companies are founded in France every year, but as businesses grow, the domestic business environment can often become more complex. e-Residency enables French entrepreneurs to expand internationally more quickly by taking advantage of Estonia's digital business environment."

The business ties between Estonia and France also include one of France's best-known public figures. Taïg Khris, a three-time world champion in inline skating and two-time X Games gold medalist, who set a world record in 2010 by jumping on inline skates from the first level of the Eiffel Tower, is now a technology entrepreneur. He founded OnOff, a company incorporated in Estonia that operates in both Estonia and France, and lived in Tallinn for several years.

"Estonia has served as a launchpad for us," said Khris, founder and CEO of OnOff. "After establishing our business in Estonia, we are now applying that experience in France. The connection between the two countries is tangible: our French chief financial officer is an Estonian e-resident, which in turn makes managing our Estonian subsidiary much simpler."

Estonia's e-Residency programme was launched in 2014 to provide citizens of foreign countries with secure access to Estonia's digital services as well as the opportunity to establish and manage Estonian companies online. Today, e-residents establish one in every five new companies registered in Estonia each year, and the programme's cumulative economic impact has reached €418 million. The programme is administered by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS).