Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson, who is on a visit in the United Arab Emirates, said that Estonia was invited to participate in the Universal Exposition (Expo) in Dubai.

Today in Abu Dhabi, Mihkelson met with his colleague, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed Salem Kardous Obaid Al Ameri, who acknowledged that the diplomatic relations between Estonia and the UAE had remarkably expanded, and the trade between the two countries had increased by four times during the last years. “He considered the possible participation of Estonia in Dubai’s Expo in 2020 especially important,” Mihkelson said.

“Participating in the Expo in Dubai would also give us a valuable diplomatic experience and enable us to do preliminary work for better protection of Estonia’s interests in an economically very innovative region,” Mihkelson said. “The visibility of Estonia does not end and does not have to end with the European Union.”

According to Mihkelson, many Estonian companies are already present in the region or targeting the markets there. Several companies and associations of entrepreneurs are ready to contribute to Estonia’s participation in Dubai Expo.

At today’s meeting, Mihkelson assured that Estonia had a very serious attitude towards developing relations with the United Arab Emirates and was exploring possibilities for opening its diplomatic representation in Abu Dhabi. “Trade and tourism between the two countries are nicely on the rise, and this trend would continue if their parliaments increased mutual cooperation and got to know each other better,” Mihkelson said.

Mihkelson added that Al Ameri praised Estonia as the role model of the e-world and expressed support to Estonia’s candidacy for the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Mihkelson is in the United Arab Emirates to promote Estonia’s candidacy campaign for the membership of the UN Security Council.

Riigikogu Press Service
Epp-Mare Kukemelk
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