By Mewati Sitaram – Mumbai
Newly appointed Ambassador of Estonia to India, Her Excellency Marje Luup called on the Governor of Maharashtra Ramesh Bais on 12th June, 2024 at his official residence, Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. The Deputy Head of the Estonian Mission in India Margus Solnson and Honorary Consul in Mumbai Sunil Khanna were also present.
The Ambassador has expressed keen interest in fostering cooperation between Estonia and Maharashtra across various sectors, including cyber security, e-governance, data security, and solid waste management.
During the meeting with Maharashtra’s Governor, The Ambassador highlighted Estonia’s expertise in data security, mentioning the country’s innovative ‘Data Embassy’ in Luxembourg. She emphasized Estonia’s willingness to assist India and Maharashtra in data security, leveraging cloud technology for data protection. The ambassador also expressed interest in collaborating with Indian tech giants Jio and TCS.
The Ambassador spoke about Estonia’s prestigious Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), which offers advanced courses in e-governance, cyber security, applied engineering and shipbuilding. She suggested that cooperation between Maharashtra and this institution could be beneficial for both parties. Despite its small population of 1.4 million, Estonia has made significant strides in digital governance. The ambassador mentioned that while Estonia doesn’t offer traditional residency, it does provide e-residency, with Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani being one of its e-residents. This program allows individuals to start businesses in Estonia remotely.
The ambassador, Emphasizing Estonia’s natural beauty, with 50% of its land covered by forests and rich biodiversity, Luup invited Indian tourists to explore the country’s medieval towns and unique landscapes. She also stressed the importance of cultural cooperation. Announcing plans to send an Estonian choir group to India and inviting a cultural team from Maharashtra to visit Estonia. In response, Governor Bais highlighted India’s robust economic growth despite global challenges and encouraged increased trade, commerce, and cultural relations between the two nations. She also mentioned the historical teaching of Sanskrit at Estonia’s University of Tartu, which was discontinued, and offered support from Maharashtra’s Sanskrit University to revive these classes.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing hope for enhanced student and teacher exchanges and accelerated cultural relations between Estonia and Maharashtra. This potential collaboration marks a significant step towards strengthening ties between Estonia and India, particularly in the areas of technology, education and cultural exchange.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
