The latest TEAM USA Series virtual meeting brought together key representatives and honorary consuls to discuss business opportunities between Estonia and the United States. The session covered upcoming events, trade developments, investment prospects, and support available for Estonian businesses looking to expand in the U.S. and vice versa.
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Welcome Remarks AmCham CEO, Daria Sivovol opened the meeting, setting the stage for discussions on strengthening U.S.-Estonia business ties.
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Silve Parviainen (EIS, East Coast Representative) – Introduced upcoming events in the U.S. and highlighted opportunities for Estonian businesses to engage with American markets.
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Henri Räim (EIS, West Coast Representative) – Spoke about efforts to help U.S. companies expand into Estonia, emphasizing the importance of attracting investment and fostering business relationships.
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Terje Raadik (Economic Counselor, Estonian Embassy, Washington, DC) – Provided insights into trade developments, emphasizing EIS’s role in supporting Estonian businesses. Discussed recent inquiries, support structures, and examples like the Hop Scooters launch. Addressed state-level contacts and tax-related support for businesses.
Insights from Honorary Consuls:
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Airi Hammalov (New York) – Shared insights into the role of the Honorary Consul network and legal resources available for Estonian businesses. Discussed delegation visits and key considerations for business expansion.
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Thomas Luckadoo (North Carolina) – Highlighted the state’s economic landscape, including its 11 million population, strong manufacturing sector, and university ecosystem (14 major public universities). Shared insights into navigating government regulations and historical business developments.
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Erik Raudsepp (Colorado) – Shared his 11-year experience in the U.S., focusing on investment opportunities and startup ecosystems. Discussed Colorado’s position as a major aviation and outdoor recreation hub (projected 100 million airport passengers by 2027, $28 billion outdoor economy).
Enterprise Estonia & Government Support:
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Piret Sauter (Enterprise Estonia, EIS) – Outlined the U.S. as a key market for Team Estonia, with 160+ companies served and 69 new market entrants. Discussed Team Estonia’s 2025 focus sectors:
- ICT
- Climate Tech
- Smart Industries
- Export services roadmap
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Eva-Liisa Jaanus (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) – Explained the role of MFA and EIS in supporting embassies and facilitating business visits. Announced ongoing work on Estonia’s export strategy, with a new tool to be launched in Autumn 2025.
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Reene Moschella (U.S. Embassy Tallinn) – Provided an update on Select USA 2025 and upcoming spin-off events to help Estonian companies enter the U.S. market.
The session reinforced the collaborative efforts of EIS, the Estonian Embassy, honorary consuls, and government agencies in strengthening trade and investment ties between Estonia and the U.S. The discussions highlighted key market trends, investment opportunities, and upcoming initiatives that businesses should take advantage of.
For further inquiries, participants are encouraged to connect with the respective speakers.
Thank you to all participants and speakers for your valuable insights and contributions. Your collaboration helps strengthen business ties between Estonia and the U.S., and we look forward to future discussions!