President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is set to make an official visit to the Republic of Estonia from January 13 to 16, 2025, at the invitation of Estonian President Dr. Alar Karis. This historic visit marks the first time a sitting Maldivian President will officially visit Estonia and aims to foster bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including digital governance, climate action, education, and innovation.
During his visit, President Muizzu will engage in high-level meetings with Estonian leaders, including President Dr. Karis, Speaker of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) Lauri Hussar, and several ministers. Discussions will center on strengthening partnerships in digital transformation, cyber resilience, climate policy, and scientific research.
The President’s itinerary also includes meetings with prominent officials, such as Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas, Minister of Climate Yoko Alender, Minister of Health Riina Sikut, and Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jonatan Vseviov, will also meet with the Maldivian delegation.
Focus on Tartu’s Innovation Hub
President Muizzu will visit Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city and home to the prestigious University of Tartu, which ranks among the top 1% of the world’s most-cited institutions for clinical medicine research. The President will tour the university’s research facilities, the Estonian Genome Database Centre, and the Greenergy Data Centre to gain insights into Estonia’s advancements in research, data management, and sustainable technology.
The President is also scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by Estonia’s Digital Advisory Council. This engagement aims to explore collaborative initiatives between the two nations in areas such as e-governance and digital solutions.
Estonia’s Global Recognition in Digital Governance
Estonia is globally renowned for its leadership in digital governance, with top-ranked e-services and innovations such as its e-Residency program. The country’s seamless integration of digital services has become a global benchmark, earning it a reputation as a pioneer in public sector digital transformation.
President Muizzu’s visit aligns with his administration’s ambitious digital transformation goals. The President has pledged to establish a robust digital economy, targeting a contribution of 15% to the Maldives’ GDP by 2030. The government’s Digital Transformation Roadmap and Strategy, along with the ongoing National AI Masterplan developed in collaboration with UNESCO’s AI Readiness assessment tools, serve as foundational pillars for achieving this vision.
Delegation and Engagements
Accompanying President Muizzu on this visit will be Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, and other senior government officials. A private delegation comprising leaders from the Maldives’ tech community will also travel with the President to foster connections with Estonian companies and institutions specializing in digital technology and innovation.
The official visit underscores the Maldives’ commitment to learning from Estonia’s digital success story and advancing the nation’s own digital agenda as part of its broader vision for national development by 2040.
