The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is revising a bilateral cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to focus on educational technology and economic collaboration, moving away from concerns related to youth initiatives. The agreement is part of Estonia’s strategic effort to diversify its economic markets, particularly in light of rising interest from Saudi Arabia. The revised text addresses internal security concerns and aims to facilitate future collaborations while acknowledging the complexity of relationships on geopolitical risks.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively renewing its attempts to finalize a bilateral cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. Initially proposed last summer, the agreement aimed to enhance economic collaboration and improve bilateral relations. However, it was not signed during Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud’s visit in July due to concerns raised by the Ministry of the Interior regarding elements related to education and youth work in the draft agreement.
The draft originally included provisions for exchange programs between youth work institutions, which raised alarms about potential influences rooted in Saudi Arabia’s ultra-conservative Islamic perspectives. To address these concerns, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has restructured the new text of the agreement, which will now focus exclusively on educational technologies rather than youth work initiatives.
Priit Kallakas, head of the ministry’s economic diplomacy department, indicated that Saudi Arabia has shown significant interest in collaborating with Estonian companies on educational technology. The revised agreement aims to foster economic relations without delving into areas of potential ideological conflict.
Moreover, the updated draft retains a broader focus on economic cooperation while avoiding previously included references to youth initiatives. The agreement outlines collaboration across various sectors, including ICT, green technologies, and agriculture.
The Ministry of the Interior has also expressed concerns about the possibility of Saudi Arabia cooperating economically with Russia. They proposed including a clause to prevent using Saudi Arabia as a route to circumvent sanctions against Moscow, though Kallakas explained that such provisions fall outside the agreement’s legal framework.
Estonia’s engagement with Gulf markets represents an effort to diversify its trade relationships, particularly as trade with Saudi Arabia has surged, showing a 40 percent increase in service exports last year. As Saudi Arabia undertakes significant reforms under its Vision 2030 program, Estonia seeks to leverage this opportunity for mutual economic growth.
Kallakas highlighted the necessity for Estonia to expand its export markets outside the EU, which constituted 71 percent of last year’s exports. The Gulf region is seen as a vital market for high-tech solutions and innovative services that align with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious development plans.
The evolving political landscape within Estonia, including shifts in government personnel and perspectives, has not deterred efforts to pursue the agreement, which is seen as foundational for future collaborations concerning investment protection and taxation treaties.
In conclusion, Estonia’s endeavor to finalize a cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia reflects a strategic pivot towards strengthening economic ties in response to growing interest from the Gulf region. By revising the agreement to focus on educational technologies and economic collaboration, Estonia seeks to mitigate previous concerns while embracing opportunities for trade and innovation. The cooperation agreement is poised to serve as a cornerstone for further diplomatic and economic engagements, addressing both current dynamics and potential future challenges.
Original Source: news.err.ee
