Analysis

Estonia opens new briefing centre to showcase e-state solutions

Estonia has opened a new e-Estonia briefing centre designed to showcase the country’s unique digital society and e-solutions to high-level foreign visitors from both the private and public sector.

The new briefing centre will focus on innovative, customised digital solutions and less on physical exhibits. It is intended to take visitors on an e-journey enhanced by interactive games, allowing them to build their own e-state.

“Our e-solutions have made Estonia an honest, transparent and efficient country,” said Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid at the centre’s opening. “We have set an example for Europe, and now have a following, especially among the Nordic countries. These countries helped Estonia to succeed economically in the 1990s, and now it’s time to return the favour and guide them towards a more flexible 21st century and show them how to operate as an e-state.”

There opening of the new centre comes amidst growing global interest in Estonia’s e-solutions.

“Last year, the old e-Estonia briefing centre received over 800 delegations and close to 9,000 guests, exceeding the previous year by 20 per cent. Our e-story is unique and fascinates the international community, as a number of e-solutions, which seem common to us, are still utopian to a large part of the world,” said Liina Maria Lepik, the managing director of the briefing centre.

According to Ms Lepik, countries around the world are turning to Estonia for guidance in implementing an e-state. “One of the objectives of our briefing centre is to bring interested parties from foreign countries together with Estonian businesses that provide our e-solutions, thereby increasing Estonia’s export of e-services,” she said

“The e-Estonia briefing centre plays an important role in shaping and maintaining the image of e-Estonia. It is a gateway for foreign guests, which helps them get a better understanding of our digital services as well as our companies’ capacities. The briefing centre is crucial for our companies to make international contacts and establish partnerships,” said Doris Põld, the cluster manager of the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications.