I am grateful for excellent relations between Denmark and Estonia, born of historic ties and based on shared values. We share common history and legends. The story of Danish flag, Dannebrog, is well known in Estonia and Denmark.
Last year Estonia and Denmark celebrated the centennial of our diplomatic relations – Denmark recognised the Republic of Estonia on the 5th of February 1921. 30 years ago Denmark was one of the first to recognise the restoration of our independence.
The role of Denmark in helping Estonia to gain its place in the international community was remarkable 100 years ago, and again 30 years ago. Your help, especially in the 1990s, to jump-start our public administration, economy, defence, and civil society has had enormous impact on the current position of Estonia – a proud member of the EU and NATO.
Estonian economy has transformed in the recent decades. The GDP per capita in real terms has more than tripled in the last thirty years and the economy has moved towards services. We have developed business friendly environment to become a hub for start-ups and digital companies.
Denmark is a role model for us in green transition. First offshore wind turbines were set up in Denmark already 1991. By 2030 Estonian company, Enefit in cooperation with Ørsted aims to open the first large offshore wind park in Estonian waters.
Our plans for the green transition include new supply capacities in various fields. The solar energy sector is growing very fast at the moment, but we need to work on the wind energy too. A large share of investments into onshore wind farms have been postponed due to security reasons so far, but this will be solved in a few years and could mean a boom in the wind energy sector after that.
The offshore wind potential of Estonia has been evaluated to be at least 7 GW-s, which is in the same ballpark of the current installed wind electricity capacity of Denmark.
However, the current electricity supply capacity of Estonia including the oil-shale sector is around 2.5 GW, therefore the plans for the development of the wind energy sector in Estonia are huge compared to our current capacities. Some of the offshore wind farm projects are getting closer to actual development. There will be lots of opportunities in this sector in Estonia during the next 10-15 years.
We have strong cooperation in many fields from defence to business, but most importantly, between our people. Let’s deepen these ties and keep our relations strong and flourishing.
I would also like to thank the guests sitting at the table today, Honorary Consuls, friends of Estonia in Denmark. You support us in telling our story. You help Estonians, even if it sometimes is at the most inconvenient time. You make Estonia bigger with your kind words and actions.
Thank you.
