Estonia should be a prime focus for emerging market investors for 2009, says Hadley Barrett, CEO of Oxford Sustainable Group.
Barrett says the strong, stable government and nimble economic structure means Estonia is better placed to bounce faster, as the global economic situation bottoms out, than its Central and Eastern Europe counterparts.
“The country offers an attractive opportunity at this point in time to UK investors. Its low asset prices and low wages give it a strong economic competitiveness within the EU block and growth will be stimulated by its 0% debt overhang,” says Barrett.
“Estonia is the most investible European country with no debt and therefore expects a stronger GDP growth than its peers as we come out of the recession.
“Within Estonia, technology represents a key investment area for UK investors as the country has the most sophisticated IT infrastructure in Eastern Europe.”
However, Barrett says the largest opportunity lies within renewable energy due to its local government cooperation with foreign investors on projects and its ambitious targets for 38% growth in renewable output by 2020.
In order to capitalise on this, Oxford has launched Oxford Renewable Energy fund 9 and is looking to raise €200m to invest in the region.
