TALLINN- Austrian companies are looking for seven Estonian producers for
co-operation in the sphere of design; at the moment three local
companies have displayed interest, the daily Aripaev reported.
Ilona Guryanova, chairwoman of the Estonian Association of Designers,
said a delegation of Austrian designers wishing to develop co-operation
relations with Estonia and looking for business partners from the
country would come to Tallinn in the framework of the Tallinn Design
Nights cultural festival.
"There is another group of producers and entrepreneurs who are looking
for possibilities of production in Estonia as well as subcontracting,
but with the opportunity of selling their products in Vienna or in the
whole of Austria," she told the paper.
Vahur Vosa, member of the board of Fellin Furniture OU, said he did not
yet know what the Austrians' eventual interests were. But he said that
the company was interested in co-operation.
Võsa said that Fellin's products were not mass products. As a result
the company had been looking for opportunities on foreign markets in
order to provide its trademark and Estonian design there.
Rein Raidna, CEO of 4room OÜ, told the paper that mutual sale and
purchase was expected from the Austrians.
"We hope we could also offer
our opportunities of production. The Austrian firm we are interested in
is in a very exclusive category," said Raidna.
Raidna said that the company had several new export channels and
co-operation partners. He said that product development had been the
key issue last year.
Andres Kivistik, CEO the AS Viisnurk furniture works, said that because
of its niche the company almost did not feel competition in Estonia.
"We have always been looking for foreign partners, but as the volumes
have contracted on the present markets and we have free capacities, we
are also looking for new partners," he said.
