At the opening of the Estonian Embassy in New Delhi today, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised the importance of expanding Estonia’s network of foreign representations in maintaining and developing relations in Asia, reported Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The opening of our embassy in India provides us with new opportunities to support business contacts, intensify foreign policy co-operation, increase communication in the areas of education and culture, and help Estonian citizens,” Paet added. Deputy Foreign Minister of India Preneet Kaur was present at the opening of the Estonian Embassy.
Estonia and India are interested in advancing economic co-operation and the opening of the embassy provides good opportunities to do so. “India is a strategic partner of the European Union and has a growing economy,” stated Paet. “Estonia and India’s economic relations are modest, but there is much untapped potential,” he added.
According to Foreign Minister Paet, India is a popular tourist destination for Estonians. “Every year more and more Estonians are travelling to discover India’s rich historical and cultural heritage. We would like to increase co-operation for more Indian tourists to travel to Estonia as well. The opening of the embassy will very soon make it easier for Indian citizens to apply for Schengen visas to travel to Estonia,” Paet added.
Paet said that cultural relations between Estonia and India are good and that opportunities for cultural co-operation will surely be increased by the opening of the embassy.
Last year the Hindi-language translation of the Estonian national epic poem “Kalevipoeg” (“Kalevputra” in Hindi) was published. “This was a significant event that opened up Estonian literature to the Hindi-speaking public,” stated Foreign Minister Paet. Hindi-language translations of the poems of Doris Kareva, Jaan Kaplinski, and Andres Ehin will also be published.
The Estonian ambassador to India is Viljar Lubi. Since March of 2012 preparations for the opening of the embassy in New Delhi were made by Estonian Chargé d’Affaires Margus Särglepp. From September 2005 to July 2008 an Estonian consular diplomat worked in the Finnish Embassy in New Delhi.