September 7, 2021
United States Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo traveled to Estonia, September 6 and 7, where she met with Estonian Government officials and participated in the Tallinn Digital Summit. During her visit, Secretary Raimondo met with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets, Finance Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, and Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Andres Sutt.
“It was my pleasure to meet with Prime Minister Kallas and other members of the Estonian Government to highlight the strong partnership between the United States and the Republic of Estonia,” Secretary Raimondo said. “Estonia is a digital pioneer and a trusted voice as we work together to close the infrastructure gap and the digital divide. I have long admired Estonia’s work to provide better services to its people by leveraging technology and I look forward to continuing our close collaboration on these important issues.”
In the Secretary’s meeting with Prime Minister Kallas, the two leaders discussed a wide-range of issues, from global coordination on the OECD’s two-pillar plan to reform international taxation to the importance of promoting increased commercial partnership and collaboration on emerging technologies between the U.S., Estonia, and Europe. Additionally, Secretary Raimondo highlighted her interest in leveraging the recently established U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council to increase U.S.-EU collaboration and to achieve discernable outcomes for our countries’ citizens and companies.
While in Tallinn, Secretary Raimondo also participated in the Tallinn Digital Summit, giving a keynote address on the need to develop a global economy that emphasizes digital infrastructure and connectivity based on shared values, as well as participating in a panel discussion.
“Digital connectivity is such an important component of our global economy. From information security to bridging gaps in our networks, our shared approach to global digital connectivity must focus on both interoperability and expanding access,” Secretary Raimondo said. “Forums like the Tallinn Digital Summit allow us to discuss ways the global community can come together to close the infrastructure and connectivity gap.”
Secretary Raimondo is the first senior official from the Biden Administration to visit Estonia and the first Cabinet-level official to visit since 2019. The Secretary’s keynote remarks and panel discussion at the Tallinn Digital Summit are available at https://www.digitalsummit.ee/.
Select photos are available on U.S. Embassy Tallinn’s Flickr page.
