Bilateral Relations
Embassy of India
Tallinn
***
India-Estonia Bilateral Relations
India’s contact with Estonia goes back several centuries. Estonian seafarer A. J. Von Krusen Stern visited Madras and Calcutta in 1797. The "PühhapäiwaWahhe-luggemissed" ("Sunday Intermediary Readings") of Otto W. Masing (1818) was the first written work in Estonian to refer to India. At the University of Tartu, several publications in Sanskrit were published in the early 1800s. Sanskrit was being taught there in1837.
India recognised the Republic of Estonia in September 1991, a month after it declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations were established in December 1991. Bilateral relations are cordial and friendly. The Embassy of India in Tallinn was opened on 28 December, 2021 headed by a Cd’A a.i. Since 1991, Embassy of India, Helsinki (Finland) was concurrently accredited to Estonia. The first Resident Ambassador Shri Ajaneesh Kumar, presented his credentials on 26 April, 2022.
Government of Estonia opened its Embassy in New Delhi headed by a C.d’A in February 2012, with the first resident Ambassador presenting his credentials on 22 February, 2013.
Vice President of India visited Tallinn, Estonia on 20-21 August, 2019. This was the first high level visit from India to Estonia since the establishment of diplomatic relations. He was accompanied by Shri Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Minister of State (IT), three MPs, senior officials and 18 companies. Vice President met President of Estonia Ms Kersti Kaljulaid, PM Jüri Ratas, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament) Mr. Henn Põlluaas, leader of India-Estonia Parliamentary Group Mr. Sven Sester and addressed Estonian Ambassadors and senior diplomats at their annual Heads of Mission Conference. He also addressed members of the Indian Community. Vice President and Estonian PM jointly addressed a Business Forum. Following MOUs were signed during the visit of Vice President:
A Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was signed in August 1995. So far 11 FOCs have been held, alternately in Tallinn and New Delhi. The 11th FOC was held in Tallinn on 25 November 2021, with Mrs Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West) and Mr. Rein Tammsaar, Under Secretary for Political Affairs as co-chairs.
Estonia-India Business Forum:
On 21 August, 2019 an Indian business delegation of 18 companies led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) which visited Tallinn as part of the Vice President of India’s delegation, participated in the Estonia-India Business Forum. They were from engineering, ICT, hospitality and other sectors. The delegation was joined at the Business Forum by 30 companies from Estonia for B2B meetings to explore possibilities of collaboration. Vice President and Prime Minister of Estonia, Mr. Juri Ratas addressed the Business Forum.
UN Security Council
Both India and Estonia served together in the UNSC as non-permanent members in the year 2021. While Estonia was non-permanent member for the term 2020-21, India is for the term 2021-22. Both countries closely cooperated with each other on issues of mutual interest.
Bilateral Trade
(In EUR million)
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
India´s Exports to Estonia |
32.87 |
31.87 |
45.61 |
30.35 |
41.00 |
India´s Imports from Estonia |
57.75 |
86.44 |
54.19 |
65.23 |
98.30 |
Total bilateral trade |
90.62 |
118.31 |
99.80 |
95.58 |
139.30 |
Source: Statistics Estonia
Major Estonian imports from India include machinery and equipment, garments, knit wear, iron & steel articles of leather; saddles and harness, travel goods, hand bags, coffee, tea, spices, footwear and pharmaceutical products.
Major Estonian exports to India include: Iron and steel, fertilizers, electrical machinery, paper and paperboard; paper pulp, veneer etc.
(In EUR million)
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
India’s imports from Estonia |
10.0 |
8.4 |
14.6 |
7.7 |
15.60 |
India’s exports to Estonia |
7.7 |
8.9 |
9.4 |
8.1 |
11.80 |
Total |
17.7 |
17.3 |
24.0 |
15.8 |
27.40 |
Source: Statistics Estonia
Indian Investment in Estonia
Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Ltd. (RIIHL), a wholly-owned unit of Reliance Industries, has set up a company in Estonia called Jio Estonia OU in November 2018. The firm will look into software development and provide consultancy for existing and future technology initiatives pursued by the group and its subsidiaries. Indian FDI in Estonia as on June 2022 stands at Euro 6.2 million (Statistics Estonia).
Estonian Investment in India
The amount of FDI equity inflows from Estonia to India from till June 2022 was US$ 3.54 million.
E-Governance
Ministry of IT and Electronics India (MEITY) has signed an MoU with e-Governance Academy for capacity building programme. In August 2019, an MOU for cooperation in e-governance and emerging digital technologies was signed between METIY and Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs & Communications. Since 2011, several officials and other private bodies from India have availed training programs in the e-Governance Academy in Estonia.
Indian entrepreneurs and founders of Start-ups have been benefited from Start-up visas issued by the Estonian government. A NASSCOM business delegation visited Estonia on 23 May 2019 for an introduction to the ICT and Start-up eco-system.
A delegation comprising 13 Start-ups and 10 incubators from India participated in Estonia’s Start-up conference ‘Latitude 59’ in May 2019, supported by our Mission, Embassy of Estonia in India, and Start-up Estonia.
DG CERT-In, Dr Sanjay Bahl led a cyber security business delegation to Estonia from 27-28 November, 2017. CERT-In and Information System Authority (RIS) of Estonia signed an MOU for cooperation in Cyber Security in August 2019.
As per latest information available, approximately 3000 Indians have become e-residents and set up nearly 700 companies in Estonia availing e-Residency and Start-up visas. In 2019, India was among the top 3 recipients of Start-up Visa with 124 given for employees and 40 for founders.
ICCR sponsored troupes perform in Estonia regularly. Some of the cultural programmes organized by the Embassy in recent years are:
*Organised as part of Estonia’s celebrations of Centenary of Independence.
Bharatanatyam school “Amrita” in Tallinn is active for nearly 30 years.
Several yoga and meditation courses and schools are run by local experts. International Day of Yoga (IDY) has been regularly celebrated by the Embassy. In June 2018 and 2019, IDY was celebrated in Tallinn and Tartu. In 2021, International Day of Yoga was celebrated at Kadrioru Park in Tallinn in cooperation with the Art of Living. In 2022, as its first cultural activity, the newly opened Resident Mission in Tallinn celebrated IDY in front of Kumu Museum, Kadriorg Park on 18 June in Tallinn and on 19 June in Tartu in the A Le Coq Sports complex.
Tartu University established in 1632 started Sanskrit studies in 1837. While the Oriental Studies Department continues to be in existence, Sanskrit is not taught anymore. Embassy presented many text books and documents including in Pali and Sanskrit.
As per the latest data, there are 1504 Indian citizens in Estonia holding temporary or long term residence permit: While 119 persons are on study visa, 248 are on employment visa. They are largely engaged as professionals in ICT industry, business and hospitality sectors.
An Indian Association of Estonia has been formally constituted on 8 September, 2022.
There are a few Indian Restaurants (Little India, Matka, Chakra, Maharaja, Ginger, Elevvant, Spice, Banana Leaf, Akbana Indian, etc.) in the capital city. Some also have their branches in Tartu and other cities of Estonia.
There are nearly 119 Indian students pursuing studies mainly in postgraduate and doctoral programmes in educational institutions in Estonia. ‘Study in Estonia’ is actively promoting Estonia as a destination for higher education for Indian students.
The first Resident Mission of India was opened on 28 December, 2021 by Shri Manoj Sharma, Cd’A a. i. Shri Ajaneesh Kumar, Ambassador assumed charge of the Mission on 11 March 2022. He presented his credentials to H.E. Mr. Alar Karis, Hon’ble President of the Republic of Estonia on 26 April, 2022.
*****
Go to Top
