Tallinn's 2023 budget includes bridge funding through Tallinn Industrial Parks to start construction of the Tallinn Film Wonderland. In the area of entrepreneurship, attention will also be paid to promoting Tallinn as an attractive tourist destination, supporting small businesses and green innovation. Operational expenditure is planned to be €2.6 million.

Deputy Mayor Joosep Vimm said that the construction of the Tallinn Film Wonderland is definitely one of the city's biggest priorities in the field of entrepreneurship. "The new studios and the associated facilities will create a modern, world-class working environment for local filmmakers, which will further raise the level of our talented film professionals. It will also bring top foreign talent and the profits that come with their profiles. Film companies will also indirectly benefit other sectors, from accommodation and catering to tourism and entertainment - there is a lot to be gained for everyone," said Vimm.

"Even though the Parliament has just adopted an amendment to the Cultural Endowment Act, the first payments from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia for the construction of the film city may only be made in two to three years. In the budget, we have planned to provide the necessary loan to Tallinn Industrial Parks so that we can start construction already in 2023," added Vimm.

Loan funds are planned to finance the investment. Responsible for the technical preparations of the Tallinn Film Wonderland is AS Tallinna Tööstuspargid. In 2021, a building permit was issued for the project as the property belongs to the city,

"Next year, we will be actively promoting Tallinn as a conference tourism destination and will focus most of our marketing on neighboring countries such as Finland and Latvia, and countries with good direct connections such as Germany, the UK, Italy and Sweden. We will also develop the Tallinn Card mobile app, which will make it even more convenient for tourists to move about the city," said Vimm.

As of the new year, Tallinn will implement a conference tourism support measure with a total budget of €200 000. The Tallinn City Card plays an important role in promoting and marketing Tallinn as a cultural city. In autumn 2023, the Tallinn Card City Guide mobile app will be launched, which will bring together in one environment information on Tallinn's museums and attractions, information on Tallinn's public transport, a map app to help you choose your route, and real-time visitor recommendations.

In 2023, support for entrepreneurship will focus on helping small businesses to adapt to a changing environment, as well as on creating an attractive environment for new start-ups. 2023 will see the launch of the NATO Innovation Accelerator, in addition to the Smart City innovation projects. In June 2021, NATO adopted the decision to create a trans-Alliance innovation accelerator network, DIANA, whose main hub in Estonia will be located in Tallinn, at the Tehnopol Business and Science Campus. The support from the City of Tallinn is intended to ensure a modern working environment for the teams participating in the accelerator program.

Funding from the Tallinn Innovation Fund will also continue, with a focus on green innovation next year. As this year, the fund is set to reach €100 000 in 2023. In the area of the circular economy, the project on sorting waste in kindergartens and schools, which started this year, will continue. Free collection campaigns for large waste will also continue.

The municipality has sent to the council a draft 2023 city budget totalling €1.14 billion, which is €66.5 million, or 6.2% more than in the 2022 revised budget. The 2023 budget of the City of Tallinn proposes €902.1 million in operating expenditure, 8.8% more than the 2022 revised budget. For investments, the draft budget foresees €217.6 million in 2023, which is 4.7% less than the 2022 revised budget.

Photo by: Citify