The two-day business conference “New Horizons from Land and Sea” took place in the Noorus SPA conference centre in Narva-Jõesuu on 8-9 May, bringing together more than a hundred participants – entrepreneurs, local government leaders, experts and developers from Ida-Viru County and elsewhere in Estonia. The conference focused on the future of the region – emerging from crises, sustainable cooperation and development, developing waterways, applying artificial intelligence to the daily work of entrepreneurs and professionals, and how to increase business opportunities.
On the first day of the conference, a number of renowned specialists gave insightful presentations, including Triinu Tapver (LHV), Raine Pajo (Enefit Power OÜ), Andres Anvelt (security expert) and Sandra Reivik (AI consultant). The presentations and discussions covered the fair transition, the region’s competitiveness, the energy future and the role of AI in business.
In his opening remarks, Mayor of Narva-Jõesuu Maksim Ilyin stressed that Ida-Viru County is not a periphery, but a region where conscious steps are being taken towards a sustainable future: “By working together and sharing knowledge, we will be able to better highlight our strengths.”
Teet Kuusmik, member of the board of the Ida-Viru Investment Agency, added that the region has concrete tools and projects to improve the business environment. The conference acted as a platform for introducing new ideas and making contacts.
On the second day of the conference, an important cooperation agreement was signed, which gave the project “Development of the waterways network and tourism business in the Ida-Viru region” a formal framework for cooperation and specified the roles of the parties.
The agreement was signed by the member of the Board of Narva-Jõesuu Port SA. Rein Peiker, Mayor of Narva-Jõesuu Maksim Ilyin, Mayor of Toila municipality Eve East and Member of Alutaguse Municipality Kairi Hõbemeri.
“This is not just an agreement – it is a decision for the future. It is crucial for the development of the whole region that municipalities work together and set common goals. We’re not just talking about the development of ports or infrastructure, but more broadly about the balanced and sustainable development of the entire waterways region – both economically and environmentally,” said Narva-Jõesuu Mayor Maksim Ilyin.
“This cooperation is special – not only because of the scale of the project itself, but also because we are able to reach a consensus between the municipalities on common objectives and responsibilities. The conclusion of this cooperation agreement is an important milestone for us, as it also brings us closer to the goal of transforming our Toila harbour into a modern and versatile sea gateway, serving both yachts and larger vessels.” said Eve East, Mayor of Toila Municipality.
“Our contribution is primarily on the softer activity side of projects. This agreement is important to move forward step by step with other developments in our region. I hope that the cooperation will be smooth and at the same time full of new challenges,” added Kaire Hõbemeri, representative of the Alutaguse municipality.
At the heart of the project is the construction of a new pier in Narva-Jõesuu, including lighting, an access road and a service platform. The construction works are expected to cost more than €4.6 million and are expected to be completed in summer 2026. There will also be a focus on business networks and innovative solutions, including VR tours.
AI workshop brings technology closer to people
In addition to the main events, the conference also included a practical workshop “AI in Practice”, led by Sandra Reivik from AiPowerment. The workshop was attended by more than a dozen people from different backgrounds – from entrepreneurs to creatives.
The workshop introduced the development of AI, taught how to create effective prompts and discussed ethical and practical aspects of AI. Participants also got hands-on experience of how AI can support marketing, customer communication and day-to-day work.
“It was great to see that there are already a lot of brave tech enthusiasts in the area,” said Sandra Reivik. The training was warmly received, and those present stressed that such training could be organised more often, especially to involve the older generation.
The future starts here
The Narva-Jõesuu Business Conference 2025 was a clear sign that Ida-Viru County is moving forward smartly and collaboratively. Both large development projects and practical training show that the region is not passively waiting for change, but is shaping its own future – boldly, wisely and together.
Narva-Jõesuu Business Conference 2025 was held in the framework of the project “Development of the waterways network and tourism business in the Ida-Viru region”. The project is supported by the European Union Cohesion and Internal Security Policy funds through the measure “Attractive regional business and living environment” and the support measure for the implementation of Regional Development Strategies.
Contact
Port of Narva-Jõesuu SA
Anna Karina, Project Manager, anna.karina@narva-joesuu.ee
Arvo Juhkov, Development Manager, arvo.juhkov@narva-joesuu.ee
Narva-Jõesuu City Government
Natalia Orava, Development Specialist, natalia.orava@narva-joesuu.ee
Article by Arvo Juhkov
Photos by Anna Markova, Arvo Juhkov
