The merger was already decided on at the end of April, while the government officially endorsed the move Thursday, BNS reports.

The merger is expected to save over €140,000 in 2021 alone, at a time when the Reform/Center coalition is pursuing an austerity drive.

Reform's IT and foreign trade minister Andres Sutt (pictured) said: "We have set the goal of legally merging the two institutions into one by the beginning of next year."

"Through the merger, we will create a strong organization, which stands with its face towards the entrepreneur, offers a comprehensive solution from the one window, and supports the innovation intensity of the Estonian economy, conquering of export markets and the attraction of foreign investment and talent," the minister went on.

Prominent loans issued by KredEx during the coronavirus crisis met with criticism, in particular one for nearly €40 million, issued to a real estate development in downtown Tallinn at a time when the project was unfinished, and not generating money. The same development, Porto Franco, was at the heart of a corruption scandal which led to Jüri Ratas' resignation as prime minister and the collapse of the Reform/EKRE/Isamaa coalition in January.

The final unification of the two bodies and the interconnection of services is due to be completed next year, Sutt, who submitted the merger plan, said.

The merger should improve research and development activity, innovation and entrepreneurship and provide better value offers and more comprehensive and efficient services to businesses, it is claimed.

Representatives from both bodies along with those from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications are to make up a steering committee, chaired by Sille Kraam, deputy secretary general for economic development at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

Legal analysis of the merger, which may even require legislative changes to facilitate it, is one of the first stages in the project, BNS says.

Enterprise Estonia works with consulates in cities abroad, including New York and San Francisco.

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