U.S. pharmaceuticals giant backs Estonia 100%

REET VOLKMANN General Manager of Pfizer in Estonia

Pfizer is one U.S. company firmly ensconced in Estonia. The global pharmaceutical giant first opened its doors in Tallinn in 1996. Concern for the quality of drugs in ex-communist bloc countries was the main driving force behind the decision to assess market potential in the region. The expansion also gave the company the chance to support a fledgling republic and it placed all available resources in the country. The regional office in Tallinn is entirely staffed by Estonians and the company is actively involved in social and educational programs in Estonia.

Dr. Reet Volkmann is Pfizer’s general manager in Estonia. She explains that Pfizer is now involved in a number of projects to promote health in the region. "In cooperation with Estonian specialists, we have begun a book series entitled 'The Estonian Man'. The first book discusses the factors associated with the male lifecycle, from birth to death. The second book will address the state of men's health in Estonia and what needs to be done to improve it. We hope the book series will provide an impetus for the development of male health research here." Pfizer also supports a number of sports activities in Estonia. "Pfizer is number one in the world, so we encourage anyone working towards this goal," states Dr. Volkmann. "It was extremely rewarding for us to represent Estonian gold medal winner Andrus Veerpalu in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City."

ANDRUS VEERPALU, gold medal winner in the men’s 15km classical cross-country race at the 2002 Winter Olympics, was sponsored by Pfizer

Pfizer's presence in Estonia contributes to improvements in the healthcare system, which policymakers are now trying to model on German and Scandinavian systems. Product safety is taken very seriously and the primary focus is to provide the best quality pharmaceutical products available. Consequently, Dr. Volkmann feels the company's presence in Estonia is a win-win situation for citizens and company alike. As for doing business in Estonia, Dr. Volkmann stresses the importance of community commitment. "When you see companies successfully invest here, it is because they’ve earned the trust and support of the local network...business-wise, Estonia is a very good country to operate in. Once you know the laws and you find the right people, it is extremely easy to do business. Business culture, spirit, and ethics are important in Estonia."

Pfizer now operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. The company's 1999 revenues in just 12 countries outside the U.S. exceeded US$100 million, helping to make it the world's fastest-growing pharmaceutical company. Revenues in general for Pfizer grew by 284% throughout the 1990s to reach US$16.2 billion in 1999.