Staying Ahead of the Curve Through Early Dialogue
On October 20, AmCham Estonia brought together representatives of seven political parties for its Pre-Election Debate 2026, one of the first political debates ahead of the upcoming elections, providing a valuable platform for open dialogue between Estonia’s political leadership and the international and local business community.
At AmCham Estonia, we strongly believe in starting these important conversations early. By bringing key issues to the table, asking questions, and engaging with political leaders well ahead of the elections, we aim to help shape a constructive dialogue on the policies that matter most to businesses and investors. After all, “Always Ahead of the Curve” has been AmCham Estonia’s motto for many years, and we believe that proactive engagement is one of the best ways to put this philosophy into practice.
Held at Hilton Tallinn Park, the event gathered business leaders, foreign investors, members of the diplomatic community, and professionals for an engaging discussion on some of the most pressing issues shaping Estonia’s future.
The debate featured Andrei Korobeinik (Centre Party), Martin Helme (EKRE), Kristjan Järvan (Isamaa), Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party), Henri Arras (Reform Party), Peeter Tali (Estonia 200), and Kristjan Vanaselja (Parempoolsed).
Expertly moderated by Sandra Kamilova, CEO and Partner at Milton New Nordics, and Maria Pihlak, Partner and Attorney-at-Law at Sorainen, the discussion explored four key topics: Defence & Security, Economic Recovery, Energy, and Healthcare.
These topics are particularly relevant to Estonia’s business and investment environment, as the country continues to navigate economic challenges, geopolitical uncertainty, and the need to strengthen its long-term competitiveness.
The debate provided an opportunity to hear directly from political representatives about their parties’ perspectives and priorities, while highlighting the importance of a stable, predictable, and business-friendly environment that encourages investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
At AmCham Estonia, we believe that constructive dialogue between policymakers and businesses is essential to ensuring that Estonia remains an attractive destination for international investment, a competitive place to do business, and a strong partner within the European and transatlantic economic community.
We extend our sincere thanks to all seven political representatives for taking the time to participate and share their views, to our excellent moderators for guiding the discussion, and to everyone who joined us and contributed to the conversation.
A special thank you to our event partners, the Finnish-Estonian Chamber of Commerce (FECC), Milton New Nordics, and Sorainen, for their valuable collaboration and support in making this event possible.
We would also like to extend our warm appreciation to Hilton Tallinn Park for hosting us and for the wonderful hospitality, professional service, and welcoming atmosphere throughout the event.
We look forward to continuing these important conversations and fostering meaningful engagement between Estonia’s political leadership and the business community.