The Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo is visiting Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week with a business delegation to develop cooperation in the field of technology and business. The visit started with the minister’s presentation at LEAP, the world’s most visited technology conference, and several meetings with local ministers and digital and business organizations.

According to Minister Tiit Riisalo, Estonia’s exports to Saudi Arabia and the entire Persian Gulf region have grown strongly in recent years. “Saudi Arabia’s goal is to become one of the world’s largest economies by 2030, and it is important for us that Estonian companies could play a part in this. The whole region is rapidly developing, and the Saudis’ interest is to gather the world’s best technologies in their country – and this is what Estonian companies can offer. They are most interested in our digital solutions and technology companies, but also, for example, Estonian food,” said Riisalo.

During the visit the minister introduced Estonia’s digital state and plans for developing personal state at the world’s largest technology conference LEAP. “Estonia is a pioneer of digital governance in the world, and the whole world is waiting with interest to see what we will do next. The personal state takes us into a new era and makes the best use of new technologies for both the state and the citizen. With its experience as a digital country, Estonia has the opportunity to contribute to the development of modern governance in Saudi Arabia as well,” the minister added.

The whole region is rapidly developing, and the Saudis’ interest is to gather the world’s best technologies in their country – and this is what Estonian companies can offer.
Tiit Riisalo, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology

According to the minister, the great interest of Estonian companies in the Saudi market is also confirmed by the size of the business delegation accompanying him.

In addition to the representatives of the joint agency of EAS and Kredex and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the minister is accompanied by a business delegation, which includes representatives of many Estonian technology companies: Cybernetica, Bolt, Cybexer, Helmes, G Scan, Nortal, B.Est Solution, Datel, DTx Estonia, Auve Tech, Ridango, Robotics 5.0, Skeleton Technologies, Positium, Milrem, Zero Terrain, Diamond Sky, Miltton Events, Kood Jõhvi, Digital Nation and Estonian ICT cluster.

Estonia also has a stand introducing the country at the technology conference LEAP.

During the visit, there will be numerous meetings with the ministers of information technology, trade, transport, economy and investments of Saudi Arabia, representatives of the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Data and Artificial Intelligence Board, etc. On Thursday, the delegation will head to Qatar, where they will also meet with various ministers and representatives of the Qatar Investment Agency, as well as sign an agreement on the elimination of double taxation.