Estonian passport more valuable than British, when its safe to skate on a frozen lake and the fastest growing Baltic economy
A compelling snapshot of Baltic life and opportunity, highlighting Estonia’s powerful passport, Lithuania’s fast-growing economy, and innovation-driven future, showcasing why Northern Europe is attracting living, investment, and growth opportunities.
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From -7 to -10 Degrees, its Safe to Skate on a Lake – Usually
With over 90 lakes in and around Vilnius, where our office is based, I’m running out of excuses not to show the locals a thing or two with my triple axle. Or access. Or whatever it’s called.
Imagine Yogi bear, after a good lunch, with a set of ice skates and you might have some idea what it will look like this weekend when I meander out to my favourite fishing hole, to save six bucks on a ticket at the local mall.
I was driving through a local forest (and there’s even more of them than lakes around here), about 15 minutes out from our office, on the way to look at a new property to purchase for one of our fractionalized real estate hubs recently.
Everything was pristine, white, and under at least half a meter of snow. The snow was so light it was balanced, inches thick on every branch and twig.
To say it was breathtaking would be an understatement. The sun streaming through the forest canopy, at one of those lake recreation spots on the way. Any care or worries of this particular, chubby, middle-aged, entitled white man just melted away.
I was reminded of the true majesty of a good winter.
Yes, it reads cold when it got down to -25°! But in reality, it’s like a dry, cool vacuum, you can hear a sparrows’ last breath a mile away.
Unlike the winters I’m used to in the South Pacific, which seemed just bleak, damp and with wind that goes through every rib.
So happy winter everyone – it’s great to be alive! – Damn pitty its almost over though.. they’re already selling daffodil bulbs at the local market.
One of the things I love most about living up here is getting to enjoy all four proper seasons. This photo of my back garden was taken this morning.
Some of you have actually sat in those very chairs, sipping a gin and tonic with us in summer, when the garden’s in full bloom.
The snow will be gone in a month, and before you know it there’ll be fresh green shoots everywhere, with the 6–8 weeks of real winter behind us. Honestly, thinking about that helps keep you focused on what really matters at this time of year… vodka!
2
The Estonian passport now more powerful than British or American
Estonian citizens can travel visa-free to more countries than either Britons or Americans
According to this year’s Henley Passport Index, the Estonian passport grants visa-free access to 183 countries, making it the sixth most powerful passport in the world; Estonian citizens can travel visa-free to more countries than either Britons or Americans.
At the end of Covid, while I was still recovering from whatever the hell that was, my wife and I decided to reframe, get out of the UK and remove ourselves from all the negativity. There were two countries on earth we could’ve gone to at the time without major hassle. One was Indonesia, the other was Estonia.
We hadn’t been to either, and I had never heard of Estonia so what better way to reframe then, than to get on a flight with whatever valuables we could carry (including 3 of the 5 kids), and head to the wilderness of northern Europe, in an effort to take a deep breath and escape the madness.
Now, it’s not often a “rich white guy” experiences racism, well, certainly not firsthand anyway. But here’s a fun fact. When telling my mother-in-law on a Zoom call, of my latest cunning plan, she was so visibly shaken, and I guess angry about the suggestion that I would take her beloved daughter and grandchildren to “Eastern Europe”, that without a word she stood up and walked off the screen. I still think it’s a bit racist. And it still happens often when I tell some people back home where I am or what I’m up to these days. Of course it’s a reaction, completely born of ignorance, with a side order of sub-par education and a sheltered existence.
I mean no offence to people who are genuinely affected by racism of course, every day. Even the Estonians. Somalians, Or the Poles.
But the simple fact is, growing up in New Zealand, through the Cold War, we all had a view of this part of the world. And it wasn’t very favourable.
So when I finally got off my ignorant butt and walked the streets of medieval Tallinn (the capital of Estonia), I was reminded first hand what humble pie tasted like. The food, culture, architecture, innovation, and technology, that is modern Estonia. I was speechless.
As to, thankfully was my mother-in-law when she finally came to visit us. Proclaiming, of course by then, what a great idea it was we moved there, and I suspect in all reality, taking full credit for it, as all good mothers-in-law do.
And that, was the start of our journey in the Baltics.
Now, over 5 wonder-filled (and profitable) years later, my self satisfied Kiwi inner-child is shaken again by the following from an article in the Estonian world;
Estonia shares sixth place in the index with Croatia, the Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand and Poland.
It’s good to see New Zealand at sixth place in terms of the best passport to have. But look who we share company with – at least four of the five countries above, I personally would’ve considered at one time or another as “broken Soviet shit holes”. And Malta. It’s a great credit to these countries then that after just 30 years of freedom from the worst and most prolonged oppression the world has seen in centuries, they are thriving in every imaginable way.
It’s taken the Baltic region just 10 years to produce over 12 unicorns in the tech sector (start-up’s valued at over 1Bn). I don’t think Australasia has produced one in that time. Though in Auckland we did get a new cycle lane – 5 times over budget and 5 years late.
Remember, 30 years ago, there was no such thing as “money” as we know it around here. They got their daily loaf with a food stamp. No accountants, no real estate agents, no lawyers (ok – it wasn’t all bad). Their culture and language had been systematically suppressed for decades, they had never travelled beyond the Iron Curtain, or usually their village, never seen a computer, or a car with electric windows.. the list is endless.. and now they code in primary school, speak 4-5 languages, design lasers for NASA and have better passports than the UK. Now that’s what I call incredible – and why I Love the Baltics.
“I’m ashamed to say, up ’till about five years ago I’d never heard of Estonia. Then, post Covid, I moved there from the UK to live, and never looked back”.
Major European Bank, Swedbank, has upgraded its growth forecast for Lithuania. It’s chief economist is quoted as saying “Taking into account improving growth prospects in the eurozone as well as other domestic economic factors, we have increased Lithuania’s GDP growth forecast,” while presenting the bank’s economic outlook on Wednesday.
We’ve been in Lithuania for a little bit over three years now, and I can say anecdotally, everywhere I look I see this economic growth in real terms.
There are new public parks, four or five new 15 to 20 story plus buildings within a one block radius of my office, new apartment blocks sprouting up everywhere, and it feels like the entire inner city roading system has just been completely relayed over the past summer. It’s like living in a boom town.
What’s good to see though, is that the economic growth is fuelled by fundamentals.
Money has flooded in to Lithuania in recent years, from the European Union, offshore investment, taxation from local technology startups (Revolut, Wise, Nord VPN etc..) and of course, NATO.
The local population is young, multilingual, upwardly mobile, in demand and grounded in traditional values, making Lithuania an attractive place for local start-ups and multi-national conglomerates alike to invest time and capital for growth.
This of course, is pumping cash into the economy, and fueling, long-term sustainable growth.
Preliminary Swedbank data show that exports of high value-added services reached a record 10 billion euros last year, accounting for about 12% of GDP.
This is a unique achievement, considering that at the beginning of the previous decade exports of such services amounted to less than half a billion euros,” Mačiulis said, citing financial services, information and communications technology, and other business services.
Estonia bets on artificial intelligence (not migration) to offset demographic decline
A lot of countries take in migrants in order to boost a slow economy, creating man-hours which inevitably leads to increased taxation, often used then to support that failing economy or government. A particular favourite in recent decades of western governments, is to use that increased taxation generated by a new migrant workforce (and higher tax), to buy votes, through a Social Security system. Giving more money, to more people, to-do less. It may be an unpopular view to voice, but it’s a simple economic reality. And the results are becoming self evident.
It’s an old formula, and I would say at least, not going that well for most of the countries that are using it. And I say that as a migrant myself – though I do identify as an immigrant. It sounds nicer.
Conversely, being pretty keen on technology in every walk of life (think driverless DHL trucks in the CBD, fresh Pizza vending machines, e-signatures and the worlds fastest free public city-wide wifi) Estonia has decided to create additional man hours; without men. (yes I mean people, humans shall we say.. or those who identify as having hands?)
Estonia plans to focus on productivity, at a systemic, nationwide level, instead of relying on grunt work, by deploying a range of AI technologies to stimulate economic growth, driving taxation through innovation, and striving to save money at a governmental, bureaucratic level, by avoiding waste and excess employment (such as governmental select commissions of inquiry, diversity, commissioners, or inclusivity trainers).
By reducing waste, expenditure, and increasing output through technology, the goal for the Estonian government is to create a sustainable economy, based upon efficiency, and I think ultimately, by pulling money in from the outside world, serving larger economies, like the UK, or US, who will be decades away from this level of thinking.
By reducing waste, expenditure, and increasing output through technology, the goal for the Estonian government is to create a sustainable economy, based upon efficiency, and I think ultimately, by pulling money in from the outside world, serving larger economies, like the UK, or US, who will be decades away from this level of thinking.
In other interesting news from our northern neighbours, Estonia has figured out a way to deal with migration – by avoiding the need for it.
This cozy, fully renovated log house is set among mature pine trees beside a quiet pond and near Tapeliai Lake, offering peaceful forest living with easy city access. An ideal year-round retreat for those who want calm, privacy, and convenience in one place.
PROPERTY SPECIFICATIONS
House Area: 53 m²
Plot Size: 6.9 ares (two plots)
Construction Year: 2010
Building Type: Log house
House Type: Garden house
Floors: 2
Rooms: 2
Condition: Fully furnished
Heating: Aerothermal and solid fuel
Water Supply: Borehole
Sewage: Local
Electricity: Connected
Location: Quiet, forest-surrounded area near Tapeliai Lake
Transport: Public transport at the entrance, year-round access
Website for the sales listing –
Tucked among tall pines beside a quiet pond and just moments from Tapeliai Lake, this cozy log house is what happens when city stress finally taps out and admits defeat.
Fully renovated and ready to go, it comes with all the important things: a proper sauna, a wood-burning fireplace, and a covered terrace with an outdoor kitchen – because life is too short to cook indoors when there’s fresh air and good company.
It’s warm, comfortable all year round, and quiet enough to hear yourself think… or not think at all, which is really the goal.
Despite the forest calm, you’re only 20 minutes from the Tech hub Vilnius, with public transport right at the gate and a smooth road home even in winter. No off-roading required. No excuses.
In short: light the fire, heat the sauna, pour something strong, stare at the trees for a bit – and quietly wonder why you didn’t do this sooner.
