Bilateral Relations
15 March 2023
Embassy of India
Tallinn
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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 first recognised Estonia on 22 September, 1921 when Estonia was admitted into the League of Nations. India re-recognised the Republic of Estonia on 9 September 1991, a month after it declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations were established on 2 December 1991. Estonia’s Honorary Consulate General in New Delhi started work in September 1993. On 10 August, 2005, the Estonian and Finnish Foreign Ministers signed a partnership memorandum, under which an Estonian Consular official began work in the Finnish Embassy in New Delhi. Later, this representation was relocated to the Embassy of Hungary in New Delhi with effect from 1 August, 2008. This was followed by Government of Estonia’s announcement to establish a resident diplomatic mission in New Delhi. While it was originally planned for 2008, it opened in February 2012. In the mean time, the Estonian Government nominated an Ambassador to India (designate), resident in Tallinn. This was the second instance when Estonia nominated an Ambassador resident in Tallinn. The 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.
Since 1991, Embassy of India, Helsinki (Finland) was concurrently accredited to Estonia. The Embassy of India in Tallinn was opened on 28 December, 2021 headed by a Cd’A a.i. The first Resident Ambassador Shri Ajaneesh Kumar, presented his credentials on 26 April, 2022.
Launch of Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)
In the spirit of the existing warm and friendly relations between the two countries, Estonia was one of the 11 nations which sent a video message of congratulation by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on the occasion of official launch of Mission Lifestyle For Environment (LiFE) event at Kevadia, Gujarat. The event was inaugurated jointly by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India H.E. Shri Narendra Modi and UN Secretary General H.E. Mr. António Guterres on 20 October, 2022. The video message was played along with that of others’ at the event.
High level engagements
Visit of Vice President
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. MOUs for waiver of visas for diplomatic passport holders; Cooperation in cyber security; and Cooperation in e-governance and emerging digital technologies were signed. He also addressed members of the Indian Community. Vice President and Estonian PM jointly addressed a Business Forum.
Estonia and India agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation through regular political dialogues, exchange of visits and cooperation in digital services, trade and investment, education, etc.
Visits of Estonian Foreign Ministers to India
Visits of Indian Foreign Ministers to Estonia
Other Ministerial Visits from Estonia
Other Ministerial Visits from India
Parliamentary Contacts
Parliamentary Friendship Group
Currently, as per information received from Lok Sabha Secretariat, there is no India Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group. Earlier a Parliamentary Friendship Group with Estonia was constituted by Hon’ble Speaker on 14 November, 2007 with 22 Member of Parliament – 14 from Lok Sabha and 8 from Rajya Sabha.
Foreign Office Consultation
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. The 12th FOC shall take place in New Delhi on 12 April, 2023.
Bilateral Agreements
Estonia-India Business Forum:
There exists an agreement establishing a Joint Business Council (JBC) between FICCI and Estonian Chamber of Commerce (KODA)
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
Trade in Goods
(In EUR million)
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
India's Exports to Estonia |
32.87 |
31.87 |
45.61 |
30.33 |
41.00 |
93.64 |
India´s Imports from Estonia |
57.75 |
86.44 |
54.19 |
64.77 |
97.80 |
123.85 |
Total bilateral trade |
90.62 |
118.31 |
99.80 |
95.10 |
138.80 |
217.49 |
Source: Statistics Estonia
Major items of exports from India to Estonia include Mineral product (40.4%), Metals & Metal product (19.30%), Machinery & Mechanical equipment (12.20%), Chemical product (9.90%), Textiles & textile product (4.05%), Plastic & plastic product (3.79%), Optical measuring precision (1.88%), Stone, Plaster, Cement & similar material (1.45%), Herbal product (1.23%), Prepared food product (1.10%) etc.
Major items of imports from Estonia to India include Mineral product (31.50%), Paper pulp of wood (30.20%), Machinery & mechanical equipment (13.60%), Wood and wood products (10.60%), Metal product (6.24%), Optical measuring precision (3.41%), Means of transport (1.38%) etc.
Trade in Services
(In EUR million)
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 upto October |
India’s imports from Estonia |
10.0 |
8.4 |
14.6 |
7.7 |
15.60 |
13.40 |
India’s exports to Estonia |
7.7 |
8.9 |
9.4 |
8.1 |
11.80 |
15.50 |
Total |
17.7 |
17.3 |
24.0 |
15.8 |
27.40 |
28.90 |
Source: Statistics Estonia
Indian Investment in Estonia
There is limited Indian investments 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 is looking into software development and to provide consultancy for existing and future technology initiatives pursued by the group and its subsidiaries. There are a few Start-Ups too with small Indian investments. Indian FDI in Estonia, as on December 2022, stands at USD 7.7 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.
Cooperation in Innovative & Start-up Technologies
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.
Cyber Security
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. On 25 January, 2023, Indian and Estonia formalised the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) extending the current MOU for Cooperation in Cyber Security for another period of 3 years.
A three member delegation from Rashtriya Raksha University led by Colonel (Retd) Nidhish Bhatnagar, Director, School of Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security visited Tallinn from 10-19 February, 2023. During their visit on 10 February, Col. Bhatnagar signed an agreement on behalf of the University. Mr. Andrus Kivisaar, Co-founder and CEO, signed for CybExer Technologies. Ambassador H.E. Mr. Ajaneesh Kumar was present on the occasion to witness this important event in furtherance of bilateral MOU on Cooperation in the areas of Cyber Security. The agreement provides for cybersecurity training and exercises for the Government of India over the next two years. The team also took part in the joint cyber exercise called ‘Defence Cyber Mravel2 EXCON’ in Tallinn for a week.
e-Residency and Start-up Visa
As per latest information available, approximately 3951 Indians have become e-Residents and set up nearly 823 companies in Estonia availing e-Residency and Start-up visas. In 2022, India was the 9th major recipient of e-residency visa.
Culture
ICCR sponsored troupes have been performing in Estonia regularly. On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day of India, an ICCR sponsored Rajasthani Folk Music and Dance troupe – Panihari Lok Sangeet Sansthan visited Estonia on 25-30 January, 2023. The troupe performed at the National Day Reception organised by the Embassy of India in Tallinn in the evening of 26 January. The troupe also gave fabulous performances at Tallinn, Tartu and Parnu on 27, 28 and 29 January respectively. A workshop was also organised in Tallinn with MUBA.
Some of the other 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.
Indian Studies
Tartu University established in 1632 started Sanskrit studies in 1837. While the Oriental Studies Department continues to be in existence, Sanskrit is not taught any more. Embassy presented many text books and documents including in Pali and Sanskrit.
Indian Community
As per information provided by the Estonian Government in Dec 2022, there are 1900 Indian citizens in Estonia holding temporary or long term residence permit: 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, Elevant, Spice, Banana Leaf, Akbana Indian, etc.) in the capital city. Some also have their branches in Tartu and other cities of Estonia.
Indian Students in Estonia
As per information provided by the Estonian Government in Dec 2022, 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.
Opening of the Resident Mission in Tallinn
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.
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