The head of state remarked that peace and stability in both the Baltic Sea and Pacific Ocean regions depended on cooperation between like-minded partners and their joint contribution to security. “Estonia and South Korea may be at quite a remove from each other geographically, but we are very close in the way we think,” he noted. “We have the same values and respect the same principles, including that of a rules-based world order in which no one country dictates the choices that another country makes or who they choose to work with.”
President Karis says the embassy and business hub are designed to foster bilateral relations, provide Estonian companies with support in entering the South Korean market, promote Estonia’s economic environment and digital and cyber success stories to the Koreans and showcase Estonia as a good target for investment in Europe.
The head of state feels that there is great potential for economic cooperation in bilateral relations between Estonia and South Korea. He gave the 30 million euro investment agreement signed today by the Estonian company Elcogen and the South Korean group HD Hyundai for the development of hydrogen technology as an example of good business diplomacy.
President Karis highlighted the fact that Estonia’s public sector is just as innovative as Estonian companies, noting that 99% of state services have been digitalised. He invited South Korean entrepreneurs to make the most of the opportunities afforded by e-residency of Estonia. Almost 2000 South Koreans have already made direct use of Estonia’s e-state services, 200 of whom have digitally set up their own companies in the country.
Taking part in today’s opening ceremony was Special Envoy to the President of South Korea and Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who visited Estonia in September. Other attendees included members of the National Assembly of South Korea, entrepreneurs, officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
