Bilateral Relations
Updated on 14 May, 2024
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 “PuhhapaiwaWahhe-luggemissed” ("Sunday Intermediary Readings") of Otto W. Masing (1818) was the first written work in Estonian to refer to India. Tartu University was established in 1632 and started Sanskrit studies in 1837. At the University several publications on the Sanskrit language and literature were published. While the Oriental Studies Department continues to be in existence, Sanskrit is not taught any more.
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, one of the 11 nations, 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 Hon’ble Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu 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), 3 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
Meetings of Foreign Ministers
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. A new Estonia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group has been set up by the 15th Riigikogu (Parliament) with 17 MPs and former Foreign Minister Mr. Urmas Reinsalu as the Chairman.
Foreign Office Consultation
A Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was signed in August 1995. Since the first FOC in September 2001 in Tallinn, so far 12 FOCs have been held, alternately in Tallinn and New Delhi. The 12th FOC was held in in New Delhi on 12 April, 2023 with Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) and Ms. Kyllike Sillate-Elling, Undersecretary (Political Affairs) as co-chairs.
Bilateral Agreements
71st Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats
In the 71st Professional Course or Foreign Diplomats, a young diplomat Liisa Schaffrik from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the programme organized by MEA in New Delhi from 21 April to 4 May, 2024.
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. Visiting Indian Vice President Hon’ble Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister of Estonia, Mr. Juri Ratas addressed the Business Forum.
Bilateral Trade
Total bilateral trade in goods in 2022 was € 217.49 million and in Estonia’s favour. Bilateral commercial relations could be diverse and more significant considering the size of our market and our fast-growing economy. There are business opportunities for collaboration with Estonia in information technology, cyber security, block chain and related tech fields (where Estonia has good capabilities). Estonia has been trying to attract Indian IT companies to set up their data centres in Estonia. Indian companies are beginning to engage with Estonian companies, given the latter’s positioning as a gateway to EU, its prowess in cyber security and block chain. Another area which offers potential for collaboration is in green-tech including green-hydrogen and wind energy. The entire spectrum of genetics, genomics, molecular biology, biotechnology, life sciences etc also provide possible avenues for cooperation.
Bilateral Trade in Goods (In EUR million)
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Upto November 2023 |
India’s Exports to Estonia |
32.87 |
31.87 |
45.61 |
30.33 |
41.00 |
93.64 |
39.36 |
India’s Import from Estonia |
57.75 |
86.44 |
54.19 |
64.77 |
97.80 |
123.85 |
72.63 |
Total Bilateral trade |
90.62 |
118.31 |
99.80 |
95.10 |
138.80 |
217.49 |
112.99 |
Source: Statistics Estonia
India is Estonia's 25th largest export partner. In 2022, the value of goods exported to India was €123.85 million and the value of goods imported from India was €93.64 million.
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.
During the current year (upto October, 2023) major items of imports from Estonia to India include Woodpulp (29.6%), Electrical equipment (26.8%), Wood and articles of wood (14.5%), Optical measuring precision instruments (9.22%), Iron and steel (4.59%) and major items of exports from India to Estonia include Electrical machinery and equipment (16.9%), Mechanical appliances (12%), Articles of iron and steel (10.9%), Miscellaneous chemical products (7.5%), Organic chemicals (6.36%).
Bilateral Trade in Services (In EUR million)
Year |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Upto September, 2023 |
India Imports from Estonia |
10.0 |
8.4 |
14.6 |
7.7 |
15.60 |
19.50 |
17.9 |
India exports to Estonia |
7.7 |
8.9 |
9.4 |
8.1 |
11.80 |
19.90 |
11.5 |
Total |
17.7 |
17.3 |
24.0 |
15.8 |
27.40 |
39.40 |
29.4 |
Source: Statistics Estonia
Indian Investment in Estonia
There is very limited 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 OÜ in November 2018. The firm is involved in software development and provides consultancy for existing and future technology initiatives pursued by the group and its subsidiaries. Startups launched by Indians also include the one by Deepak Solanki, the inventor of Li-Fi technology to transmit data or power the Internet using light. Other Start-Ups are KonnectzIT by Vijay Kumar Channalli and HopLocal by Prameet Sawhney. Indian FDI in Estonia stands as EUR 8.3 Mln (source: Bank of Estonia, September, 2023).
Estonian Investment in India
Estonian FDI in India from April 2000 to September 2023 was US$ 3.72 Mln. (source: DPIIT, September, 2023)
Commercial delegations from Estonia
Recently, an 8-member business delegation visited India with the Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Mr Tiit Riisalo who participated in the Global Vibrant Gujarat 2024 on 10-12 January 2024. He was keynote speaker at the seminar “TECHAD: Herlanding India’s Technological Decade” on 11 January. The topic of his presentation was “Personalised state and AI- New Iteration of Famous e-Estonia”. He was accompanied by a 2-member official delegation and an 8-member business delegation who had quite a few meetings including in Delhi at Niti Aayog, Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Electronics and Information Technology, Defence and Science & Technology respectively. The business delegation included leading Estonian companies like Cybexer Technologies, Vegvisir, Gennet Laboratories, Leil Storage, LEI Register, Omniva, Eesti Energia and Taltech. A key highlight was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Estonian defence industry company Vegvisir and the Indian company MKU Limited, signifying Vegvisir’s market expansion into the India.
Undersecretary for Economic and Development Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ms. Mariin Ratnik visited New Delhi on 22-23 November, 2023 to take part in the 2nd edition of CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave. Besides official delegation, she was accompanied by a 2-member business delegation consisting of representatives from LEI Register and Gennet Laboratories.
Estonian Entrepreneurship & IT Minister Urve Palo visited India in March 2018 to discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of Cybersecurity, Digitalisation, e-Governance and Smart Cities.
Commercial delegations from India
A two member delegation from National Stock Exchange, Mumbai, namely Mr. Mayuresh Girish Joshi and Mr. Pravesh Moon visited Tallinn in February 2024 to study the ‘data embassy’ project of Estonia.
A two-member delegation from National Health Authority led by Dr. Basant Garg, Additional Chief Executive Officer visited Estonia on 1-3 November 2023 on the invitation of Gennet Laboratories, Estonia to gain insights into Estonia's advancements in e-health and digital governance. During the visit, the delegation called on Mr. Lauri Hussar, Speaker of Parliament and Ms. Riina Sikkut, Minister of Health. The delegation visited several institutions and held meetings viz. E-Estonia Briefing Centre, Estonian Health Board, TEHIK, Information System Authority (RIA), Tervisekassa (Health Insurance Fund), Gennet Laboratories and Pärnu Hospital.
E-governance & Emerging Digital Technologies
Estonia is among the world’s most digitally enabled nation, offering a unique combination of talent, environment, and innovation. Their IT R&D ecosystem enjoys global proof of concept, being trusted by global organisations such as Kuehne+Nagel and NATO and producing unicorn start-ups like Skype, Wise and Bolt. With a highly-qualified workforce and strengths in engineering, electronics and IT, Estonia is also at the cutting edge of R&D, production and service for mechatronic solutions with embedded software.
E-Governance:
Ministry of IT and Electronics India (MEITY) 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 others from India are availing training programmes in the e-Governance Academy in Estonia. In August-September, 2018, 25-30 senior Government of India and State Government officials visited Estonia for a training programme at the e-Governance Academy. In the pre-Corona period, the last such batch of 20 senior NIC officials attended a programme at e-Governance Academy in Tallinn in February 2020. Due to the Covid pandemic, no delegations could visit Estonia in in 2021. In 2022, two officers, Ms. Aruna Rajoria, IAS and Mr. Ashim Chhabra, EPFO attended the e-governance course on 9-15 October 2022 at e-Governance Academy. Recently, Col. Pooja Nautiyal from National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) visited Estonia on 13-16 June 2023 to attend the Tallinn Summer School Cyber Diplomacy 2023 organised by e-Governance Academy.
Innovation & Start-up
Estonia has a vibrant and welcoming Start-up community, eager to support ambitious individuals and Start-ups. Despite the Covid-19 situation, Estonia’s Start-up sector has been growing fast – around 30% year over year and now stands at more than a 1450 Start-ups and birth place of 10 unicorns. Estonia has more Unicorns per capita in Europe. Estonia which has a disruptive innovation system is issuing Start-up visas to Indian entrepreneurs and founders of Start-ups. A NASSCOM business delegation visited Estonia on 23 May 2019 for an introduction to the ICT and Start-up eco-system.
Latitude59 is Estonia’s flagship Start-up and tech event, held in Tallinn every year in May since 2008. 13 Start-ups and 10 incubators from India participated at Latitude 59, supported by our Mission, Embassy of Estonia in India, and Start-up Estonia in May 2019. at PM proposed hackathons to leverage the digital technologies of both countries.
Cyber Security
DG CERT-In, Dr Sanjay Bahl led a cyber security business delegation to Estonia on 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, India and Estonia formalised the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) extending the current MOU for Cooperation in Cyber Security for another period of 3 years with the provision of further extension.
A 3-member delegation from Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar led by Colonel (Retd) Nidhish Bhatnagar, Director, School of Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security visited Tallinn on 10-19 February, 2023. During the visit, on 10 February, an agreement was signed between RRU and Cyber Exer Technologies in furtherance of bilateral MOU on Cooperation in the areas of Cyber Security. The agreement provided for training and exercises for the Government of India over the next two years. The visiting team also took part in a week’s joint cyber exercise called ‘Defence Cyber Mravel2 EXCON’. In June 2023, a 16-member RRU delegation again engaged itself with CybExer and participated in training programmes in cyber security. Under the MOU, India (RRU) and Estonia (Cybexer) jointly successfully conducted the Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise 2023 in New Delhi on 9-20 October, 2023, the concluding session was also attended by the Chief of the Air Staff, Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organization and the National Cyber Security coordinator.In this exercise conducted by RRU in collaboration with National Security Council Secretariat, the cyber range platform from Cybexer Technologies, Estonia was used. A 3-member delegation from Cybexer Technologies visited New Delhi to participate in the event. Recently, RRU particiapted in the ‘Defence Cyber Marvel3’ annual Cyber Defence Exercise from 10-16 February, 2024. A 3-member delegation led by Col. (Rtd) Nitish Bhatnagar participated in the same at Tallinn with another 12 members participating from RRU at Gandhinagar.
Earlier, on 18-29 April, 2022, National Security Council Secretariat organised National Cyber Security Incident Response Exercise (NCX India) for Government officials and Critical Sector Organisations to strengthen India’s Cyber posture. The program was conducted by the NSCS, the Government of India in association with Data Security Council of India (DSCI) as the Knowledge Partner and supported by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The platform for training was provided by Cyber Exer Technologies.
e-Residency and Start-up Visa
India ranks 10th by number of e-residents. Recent statistics shows that towards the end of December 2023, there were 4,221 Indians who have acquired e-residency and set up 922 companies.
Culture
ICCR sponsored troupes have been performing in Estonia from time to time. 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 well received performances at Tallinn, Tartu and Parnu on 27, 28 and 29 January respectively. A workshop was also organised in Tallinn with MUBA.
Another ICCR sponsored 7-member Tanusree Shankar Dance Company visited Estonia on 24-25 August, 2023 to commemorate the 76th Independence Day of India. The Embassy organised two performances of the visiting troupe at the Tallinn Ballet and Music School, MUBA on 24 August and at Rugodiv Cultural House, Narva on 25 August.
Some of the other cultural programmes organized by the Embassy in recent years are:
*Organised as part of Estonia’s celebrations of its Centenary of Independence (24 June, 1918).
Bharatanatyam school “Tantsustuudio Amrita” in Tallinn is active for nearly 30 years. The group has been receiving grants-in-aid under Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies from the Ministry of Culture for promotion of Indian Culture for the past over 5 years.
Several yoga and meditation courses and schools are run by local studios and 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, IDY was celebrated at 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 Tallinn as well as Tartu on 18 and 19 June respectively. In 2023, IDY was celebrated in three cities, namely Tallinn on 17 June, Tartu and Parnu on 18 June respectively.
A 15-member cultural delegation from Estonia visited India from 3-12 February, 2024
to participated in the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2024 organized in Surajkund,
Haryana.
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 anymore. Embassy has presented many text books and documents including in Pali and Sanskrit. We proposed an MoU for setting up an Indian Chair but the University did not show any interest.
Indian Community
As per information provided by the Estonian Government in Dec 2022, there were 1900 Indian citizens in Estonia holding temporary or long term residence permit: They are largely engaged in academia as professionals in ICT industry, business and hospitality sectors. Some Indian nationals also work in Horizon owned by Tolaram Group of Singapore. In 2018, we proposed a draft Agreement on Social Security Contributions but the Estonian side has not agreed yet.
In October 2018, a draft Agreement for Extradition and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty was forward to the Estonian side which is still to be responded by them. An Agreement for Waiver of visas for Diplomatic Passport holders was signed in August 2019. An Agreement for Transfer of Sentenced Persons entered into force in 2017. Memorandum of Understanding to Facilitate Mutual Recognition of Qualifications between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of India was not accepted by our side.
An Indian Association of Estonia was formally constituted in September, 2022 and has been actively organising cultural events from time to time.
There are a few Indian Restaurants (Little India, Chakra, Maharaja 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 December 2022, there were nearly 119 Indian students pursuing studies mainly in postgraduate and doctoral programmes in educational institutions in Tallinn and Tartu. ‘Study in Estonia’ is actively promoting Estonia as a destination for higher education for Indian students. Estonia is very keen to conclude an Agreement for Mutual Recognition of Educational qualifications as they feel it will be essential to employ India’s students after they complete their higher education in Estonia. However, Ministry of Human Resource Development is not in favour of the same.
Opening of the Resident Mission in Tallinn
The 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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