On 8–9 May, the two-day business conference “New Horizons from Land and Sea” took place at the Noorus SPA Conference Centre in Narva-Jõesuu. The event brought together more than one hundred participants — entrepreneurs, municipal leaders, experts, and development professionals from Ida-Viru County and across Estonia.
The conference focused on entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and emerging technologies, as well as strengthening business cooperation networks in the field of waterway development in Ida-Viru County.
On the first day, several distinguished speakers delivered substantive presentations, including Triinu Tapver (LHV), Raine Pajo (Enefit Power OÜ), Andres Anvelt (security expert), and Sandra Reivik (AI consultant). Discussions addressed the just transition, regional competitiveness, the future of energy, and the role of artificial intelligence in business.
In his opening remarks, Mayor of Narva-Jõesuu Maksim Iljin emphasised that Ida-Viru County is not a peripheral area, but a region taking deliberate steps toward a sustainable future: “Through cooperation and knowledge sharing, we can better highlight our strengths.”
Teet Kuusmik, Member of the Management Board of the Ida-Viru Investment Agency Foundation, added that the region has concrete instruments and projects aimed at improving the business environment. The conference served as a platform for presenting new ideas and establishing professional connections.
The conference focused on entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and emerging technologies, as well as strengthening business cooperation networks in the field of waterway development in Ida-Viru County.
On the first day, several distinguished speakers delivered substantive presentations, including Triinu Tapver (LHV), Raine Pajo (Enefit Power OÜ), Andres Anvelt (security expert), and Sandra Reivik (AI consultant). Discussions addressed the just transition, regional competitiveness, the future of energy, and the role of artificial intelligence in business.
In his opening remarks, Mayor of Narva-Jõesuu Maksim Iljin emphasised that Ida-Viru County is not a peripheral area, but a region taking deliberate steps toward a sustainable future: “Through cooperation and knowledge sharing, we can better highlight our strengths.”
Teet Kuusmik, Member of the Management Board of the Ida-Viru Investment Agency Foundation, added that the region has concrete instruments and projects aimed at improving the business environment. The conference served as a platform for presenting new ideas and establishing professional connections.
Photo: Anna Markova
Mehis Luus, Development Adviser of Toila Municipality and an advocate of waterway and small harbour development in Ida-Viru County, highlighted that waterway development aligns with the region’s broader objectives of building a sustainable and innovative business environment.
Historic Partnership Agreement — A Shared Vision for Waterway and Business Development
On the second day of the conference, an important cooperation agreement was signed, establishing the official framework and defining the roles of the parties in the project “Development of the Ida-Viru Regional Waterway Network and Tourism Entrepreneurship.”
The agreement was signed by Rein Peiker, Member of the Management Board of SA Narva-Jõesuu Sadam; Maksim Iljin, Mayor of Narva-Jõesuu; Eve East, Mayor of Toila; and Kairi Hõbemeri, representative of Alutaguse Municipality Government.
The agreement was signed by Rein Peiker, Member of the Management Board of SA Narva-Jõesuu Sadam; Maksim Iljin, Mayor of Narva-Jõesuu; Eve East, Mayor of Toila; and Kairi Hõbemeri, representative of Alutaguse Municipality Government.
Photo: Anna Markova
“This is not merely an agreement — it is a decision for the future. From the perspective of regional development, it is crucial that municipalities cooperate and set common goals. We are not speaking solely about harbour or infrastructure development, but about the balanced and sustainable development of the entire waterway region — both economically and environmentally,” said Mayor Maksim Iljin.
Eve East, Mayor of Toila, noted: “This cooperation is significant not only because of the scale of the project, but also because we have been able to reach consensus between municipalities regarding shared objectives and responsibilities. Signing this agreement marks an important milestone in transforming Toila Harbour into a modern and versatile maritime gateway serving both yachts and vessels with greater draught.”
Kairi Hõbemeri added: “Our contribution is primarily focused on the softer components of the project. This agreement is essential for progressing step by step with further developments in our region. I hope this cooperation will be smooth and, at the same time, full of new challenges.”
At the core of the project is the construction of a new breakwater in Narva-Jõesuu. The estimated cost of the construction works exceeds €4.6 million, with completion expected in summer 2026. The project also includes the development of business networks and innovative solutions, including VR tours.
AI Training Brought Technology Closer to People
In addition to the main conference programme, a practical training session titled “Applying AI in Practice” was conducted by Sandra Reivik from the AIPowerment platform. The training aimed to raise awareness among regional entrepreneurs about artificial intelligence and to provide practical tools for integrating AI into daily operations. More than twenty participants from various sectors attended.
The workshop introduced the development of AI technologies, provided guidance on crafting effective prompts, and addressed both ethical and practical aspects of AI implementation. Participants gained hands-on insights into how AI can support marketing, customer communication, and everyday business processes.
“It was encouraging to see that there are already many technology-oriented and forward-thinking people in this region,” said Sandra Reivik. The training was well received, and participants emphasised the importance of organising such sessions more frequently, particularly to engage older generations.
The workshop introduced the development of AI technologies, provided guidance on crafting effective prompts, and addressed both ethical and practical aspects of AI implementation. Participants gained hands-on insights into how AI can support marketing, customer communication, and everyday business processes.
“It was encouraging to see that there are already many technology-oriented and forward-thinking people in this region,” said Sandra Reivik. The training was well received, and participants emphasised the importance of organising such sessions more frequently, particularly to engage older generations.
Photo: Anna Markova
Narva-Jõesuu Business Conference 2025 clearly demonstrated that Ida-Viru County is moving forward intelligently and collaboratively. Both large-scale development projects and practical training initiatives confirmed that the region is not passively awaiting change, but actively shaping its own future — confidently, strategically, and together.
Narva-Jõesuu Business Conference 2025 and the training “Applying AI in Practice” were held within the framework of the project “Development of the Ida-Viru Regional Waterway Network and Tourism Entrepreneurship.” The project is supported by the European Union Cohesion and Internal Security Policy Funds under the measure “Attractive Regional Business and Living Environment” (grant amount up to €2,961,850.11), by the regional development support measure MATA (grant amount up to €394,913.35), and by the own contributions of the project partners: SA Narva-Jõesuu Sadam, Narva-Jõesuu City Government, Toila Municipal Government, and Alutaguse Municipal Government.
