This article covers cooperation between India and Estonia in cyber security, e-governance and digital technologies, science, technology and higher education, the environment, defence industry contacts and legal matters. It draws on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of March 2026. The brief records no development assistance, lines of credit or ITEC training for Estonia, so the article concentrates on these sectors.

Framework for cooperation

The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between India and Estonia was signed on 14 October, 1993 and entered into force in March 2000.

Cyber security

India and Estonia signed an MOU for Cooperation in Cyber Security in August 2019. According to the MEA brief of March 2026, a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) extends the MOU for another period of 3 years, with provision for further extension.

The inaugural India-Estonia Cyber Dialogue was held in Tallinn on June 17, 2024. The 6-member Indian delegation was led by Mr. Amit A. Shukla, Joint Secretary, Cyber Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs. The 8-member Estonian delegation was led by Mr. Tanel Sepp, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyber Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia.

E-governance and digital technologies

Two MoUs between the national governments cover e-governance:

  • MOU on Cooperation on Capacity Building etc. in e-Governance, signed in February 2014
  • MOU for Cooperation in e-Governance and emerging digital technologies, signed in August 2019

At state level, an MOU on cooperation in ICT, e-Gov and Cyber Security between the State of Telangana and the Government of the Republic of Estonia was signed in October 2018.

Indian ministers responsible for information technology have visited Estonia on several occasions. Minister of Communications and IT Shri Kapil Sibal visited on 19 September, 2011, and Minister for Law and Justice & IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad on 11-13 September, 2016. Karnataka's Minister of IT, Bio-Tech, S&T and Industries, Shri K.J. George, visited on 28 August, 2018. From Estonia, the Minister of IT and Entrepreneurship, Ms. Urve Palo, visited India on 8-12 March, 2018.

Indian official bodies have also sent delegations to study Estonian systems. A 2-member delegation from the National Health Authority visited Estonia on 1-3 November 2024. A 5-member delegation from the Department of Posts visited from 17-19 September 2025 to study the country's Digital Addressing System.

Science, technology and higher education

The Agreement on Cooperation in Science & Technology was signed in February 1999 and entered into force in August 1999. An MOU on Cooperation in Biotechnology and Higher Education followed in October 2013.

Estonia's Minister for Education and Research, Mr. Jaak Aaviksoo, visited India from 28 September to 1 October, 2012, and again in October 2013.

A 58-member Robotex India delegation of children from government and municipal schools took part in Robotex International in Tallinn on 6-7 December, 2024.

Environment

Estonia was one of the 11 nations that sent video messages of congratulation for the official launch of Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) at Kevadia, Gujarat. The message, from Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, was played along with the others at the event on 20 October, 2022. The brief presents the message as being in the spirit of the warm and friendly relations between the two countries.

India's Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, visited Estonia on 20-22 September, 2013.

Defence industry contacts

A 10-member defence delegation led by the PHD Chamber of Commerce visited Tallinn on 22-24 May, 2024.

An Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons was signed in November 2016 and took effect in March 2017. Estonia's Minister for Justice, Mr. Hanno Pevkur, visited India on 9-11 December, 2013.