Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

The Republic of Estonia has always maintained strong relations with the UAE and looking forward to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various economic sectors, this was revealed during an event in Abu Dhabi.

On the occasion of the Republic of Estonia’s 105th Independence Day, the Embassy of Estonia, in collaboration with Enterprise Estonia, held a ‘Meet Estonia’ reception. With Estonian companies who have an interest in the UAE and in the GCC in attendance, the event allows the widest segment of people to explore Estonia’s innovation and progress whilst also cementing Estonia’s ties with the UAE. Also present at the reception was a Taste Estonia food corner where visitors can experience the delicacy of Estonian foods.

Estonia’s Independence Day is celebrated on 24 February, which this year is coinciding with two major events taking place in the UAE: Gulfood (20 – 24 February in Dubai) and the International Defence Exhibition (20 – 24 February in Abu Dhabi). Estonia is represented at both of the exhibitions with a national stand, providing an incredible opportunity for professionals, visitors, and businesses from all over the world to explore what Estonian companies have to offer in the UAE/GCC market.

According to the Ambassador of Estonia in the United Arab Emirates Jaan Reinhold, this Independence Day event was the first of its kind after the pandemic restrictions, and is therefore called Meet Estonia. This event brought together Estonian friends and business partners, with whom cooperation began within the framework of Dubai Expo 2020. Estonian food and music are the added value of the reception introducing the country, as well as its nature and culture to the guests.

Alar Karis, the President of the Republic of Estonia, sent a special video-greeting to the guests, mentioning that the geographical distance between Estonia and the United Arab Emirates has not been an obstacle to the friendly and hard-working spirit of cooperation between the two countries. The President emphasised the high ambition for cooperation in new technologies and education as a connecting link between entrepreneurial and scientific institutions and wished the United Arab Emirates luck with COP28.

Estonia has always maintained strong relations with the UAE, but following its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, the European country’s exports of goods and services to the UAE increased by more than 100% in 2022. The UAE, in turn, is also looking to strengthen bilateral ties with Estonia and is exploring ways of cooperating in the fields of artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

Since the establishment of the Estonian Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2019, Estonia has continuously invested its interest in the UAE, founding the UAE-Estonia Business Council in 2022. The union was forged in response to the growing number of Estonian companies seeking to expand to the UAE and GCC and has been received with an incredibly warm welcome from the UAE.

The ’Meet Estonia’ reception is supported by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.