The Estonian Foreign Affairs Ministry is renewing efforts to sign a cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, previously stalled due to concerns from the Interior Ministry. The focus has shifted from youth work to economic cooperation, particularly educational technologies, while addressing concerns regarding Saudi-Russian relations. The agreement intends to enhance bilateral trade and investment opportunities, despite previous skepticism from parts of the Estonian government.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has renewed efforts to finalize a bilateral cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, which was initially proposed last summer to bolster economic ties. The signing was postponed during Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud’s visit in July due to concerns from the Ministry of the Interior, particularly regarding aspects of cooperation in education and youth work that were thought to potentially import conservative ideologies into Estonia.
In a recent update of the agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized a shift away from youth work towards focusing on educational technologies. Priit Kallakas, head of economic diplomacy, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s interest in collaborating with Estonian companies in this sector, clarifying that discussions regarding youth work will not be governed by the government but can be explored by NGOs on their own.
The revised agreement also defines its scope more narrowly, prioritizing the creative economy over cultural cooperation, while maintaining an emphasis on economic collaboration across various sectors including ICT, agriculture, and health. However, concerns remain about Saudi economic engagements with Russia, with the Interior Ministry suggesting clauses to prevent circumvention of sanctions. Kallakas noted that legal limitations prevent unilateral additions to the agreement regarding these concerns.
Despite previous hesitancy, the evolving dynamics have fostered growing interest among Estonian companies in Gulf nations. Following an increased trade volume, notably a 40 percent rise in service exports to Saudi Arabia, Kallakas attributed success to the groundwork laid during the Dubai EXPO in 2020, asserting that Gulf nations are crucial for acquiring advanced technologies while Estonia aims to diversify its export markets beyond Europe.
As Estonia seeks to capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s initiatives, such as the Vision 2030 program, the agreement aims to strengthen the foundation for future treaties, including those related to investment protection. Changes in the Estonian government have also shifted perspectives, allowing for the progression of this agreement against previous skepticism surrounding engagement with Saudi Arabia and similar markets.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working towards finalizing a cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, focusing primarily on economic collaboration, specifically in educational technology. Despite earlier concerns regarding internal security and ties with Russia, the evolving landscape of Estonian foreign relations has fostered optimism and interest in Gulf markets. The agreement aims to lay groundwork for future economic partnerships while addressing prior hesitations within the government’s stance towards engagements with Saudi Arabia.
Original Source: news.err.ee
