Development of Sustainable Cooperation Networks Between Jõhvi and Kingisepp Municipalities, Business Supporting Structures and Enterprises.

The partnership between Jõhvi and Kingisepp started in 1997-98. It has included mainly cultural exchange, cooperation of schools etc. After the municipal reforms in Jõhvi and Kingissep in 2006, a strong need for systematic and long-term cooperation is ascertained.The overall objective of the project is to develop sustainable networks between the municipalities of Jõhvi and Kingisepp through cooperation between local municipalities, business supporting structures and enterprises. After the project, it is possible to start several parallel ones during the next EU funding period, as in the end an agreement including the list and description of at least 5 joint projects will be provided. Partners of the project are Jõhvi Municipality Government (Estonia) and administration of municipal formation 'Town of Kingisepp' (Russia). Both partners are the centres of border regions - Jõhvi is the centre of North-East Estonia and Ida-Viru County, Kingisepp is the centre of Kingisepp disrict. The main activities of the project include training, study trips, establishing a sustainable business centre in Kingisepp, sector researches for mapping enterprises interested in cooperation with neighbouring region(Kingissep/Jõhvi), trade missions, analyzing common interest and cooperation possibilities and signing cooperation agreement (during final seminar), incl the list and description of at least 5 joint projects until 2013. The main target groups of the project are: 1) people from local municipalities' administrations and other public institutions from both sides; 2) small and medium sized enterprises from both sides; 3) third sector organisations involved in planning and development (business supporting structers - chamber of commerce and industry, business centres, incubators, etc); 4) local inhabitants. The main outputs of the project are: 10 days of training (8 in Russia, 2 in Estonia), a study trip to Russia and a study trip to Estonia; a strategy and business plan for business centre in Kingisepp, equipment for business centre (furniture, 2 computers, printer, fax and 2 phones), sector researches (1 in both sides), 3 trade missions (1 to Russia, 2 to Estonia); seminar days for municipality leaders (1 in Russia and Estonia); 1 signed cooperation agreement.The main results of the project are: 1)Homogenized awareness of planning, compiling and managing development projects in Jõhvi and Kingisepp municipalities 2)Establishment of a sustainable business centre in Kingisepp 3)Establishment of new and sustainable business contacts between Estonian-Russian enterprises 4)Signing cooperation agreement which includes the list and discription of joint projects until 2013. The cross-border impact of the project will be seen in stronger and more efficient cooperation networks between muncipalities, business supporting structures and firms between both partners. It will lead to a significantly increased number of futher cooperation projects and activities.