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A Quarterly
Publication of the Estonian American Chamber of
Commerce and Industry |
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| HOME | page six, page one, page two, page three, page four, page five |
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Estonia in the 21st Century By Reimo Pettai The world has changed in the past century at an unprecedented pace. Estonia too has been through great changes now entering the 21st century with a remarkable confidence and a solid contribution to the technological advancement and economic progress. By one measure, for instance, Estonia has been a striking example of economic renaissance that has now inspired both business and academic communities around the globe. Behind the joint effort one can almost feel and touch the energy that has been invested by Estonians to rebuild society and re-establish both economic and social ties with countries once constituting the Hansaetic League, the world’s most powerful trading bloc in the Middle Ages and beyond. And its reach has gone beyond that as Estonia’s presence here in the United States has also not gone unnoticed. On February 24, 2003 Estonia celebrated its 85th anniversary. Among the celebrants was also the recently established Estonian American Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As the Chamber of Commerce celebrated the Estonian Independence Day for the first time, it also celebrated Estonia’s rise and new achievements in the business landscape both in New York, as well as the United States as a whole. It was, in fact, a double celebration, since the creation of the Estonian American Chamber of Commerce and Industry itself gives the founding members and other stakeholders a reason to celebrate. The Chamber of Commerce is a new and promising venture, while its establishment is a natural continuation to steadily intensified economic relations between the two great nations of Estonia and America. Having been greeted and warmly received by business communities it has quickly developed into a major forum and conduit to promotional, educational as well as social activities. With surprising ease, the new organization joined other Chambers of Commerce in New York, adding momentum and pulse to business life in the Metropolitan area. More importantly, however, it has created new opportunities for its members and partners that conversely, will strengthen the identity and reputation of its member companies, their products and the countries in general. We have passed an important milestone and opened a new page in Estonian American relations, a page that will be written by the business community members on both shores of the Atlantic. I am confident that the Estonian American relations will get to know a worthy sequel that will take the transatlantic cooperation to new levels.page six, page one, page two, page three, page four, page five |
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