eksportteenuste

Eksportteenuste, literally “export services,” refers to a category of services that businesses and governments provide to facilitate the export of goods and technology from one country to another. The term is most commonly used in Estonia, where it denotes a subset of the national export policy aimed at creating a service‑based environment that supports international trade. This includes logistic support, customs clearance assistance, financing options, export credit insurance, market research, and legal advisory services that help exporters navigate foreign regulations and compliance requirements.

The concept emerged in the early 2000s as Estonia sought to diversify its economy and move beyond a reliance on manufacturing and technology exports. By framing certain collaborations as “export services,” the Estonian government was able to obtain targeted funding and subsidies, offering preferential tax treatment to firms that delivered services linked to export activities. This policy approach has encouraged the growth of small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) offering product‑development consultation, digital platform integration and cross‑border marketing to foreign buyers.

In practice, eksportteenuste often involve partnerships between national export promotion agencies, local chambers of commerce, and international trade offices. Firms that provide these services must typically demonstrate a tangible contribution to the foreign trade GDP and can claim credit for participating in export‑related projects. Estonia’s model has been adopted by other Baltic and Nordic countries, and the export‑service sector is now a significant contributor to the region’s overall export performance, helping to spread risk and provide expertise that larger exporters may lack.