AMBASSADOR PAEZ PRESENTS HER LETTERS OF CREDENCE TO ESTONIA’S PRESIDENT H.E. TOOMAS HENDRIK ILVES Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez presented her Letters of Credence to Estonia’s President H.E. Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Tallinn last 17 September 17, 2013; thus, completing her official accreditation as the Philippines’ envoy to Estonia. She also conveyed the warmest greetings of President Benigno S. Aquino III to President Ilves. After the ceremony for the Presentation of the Credentials, Amb. Paez had an audience with President Ilves where she shared her key objective to forge cooperation with Estonia in the areas of cyber security, cyber legislation, e-governance and in the “ease of doing business” - areas which are Estonia’s strengths and from which the Philippines has so much to learn. She also recalled President Ilves’ statement that “a computer cannot be bribed” with reference to his strides in e-governance that has fosted transparency and which has helped elimitate corruption. She informed him that President Aquino has likewise been waging a relentless campaign against graft and corruption. She added that this is exemplied by the Philippine government’s e-procurement where bidding and awards for government contracts are posted in government agencies’ websites. Amb. Paez noted that Estonia, under the visionary stewardship of President Ilves, is now the e-country of the world, the global leader in e-governance, and has been ranked No. 1 in Internet Freedom by the Freedom House. Amb. Paez also congratulated President Ilves for his transformational leadership as attested by Estonia’s ranking as the 5th most successful transformation country in the world out of 128 countries in the Bertelsman Transformation Index. She informed President Ilves that the Philippine economy grew by 7.6% for the first half of this year and noted that Estonia’s economy is also projected to grow by 3% this year, despite the eurozone crisis. Amb. Paez informed the Estonian President that the Philippine Embassy will participate in Estonia’s Tourest Travel Trade Fair, which is spearheaded by the Estonian Travel and Tourism Association. She also thanked Estonia for its support for Philippine candidatures within the UN system and requested for its support for new candidatures. The Philippine envoy expressed strong interest in the work of the e-Governance Academy in Tallinn. President Ilves urged her to visit the Academy which the Foreign Ministry’s Protocol Office immediately arranged. Also present during the meeting at the Office of the President were Foreign Policy Adviser to the President Mr. Margus Laidre; the Head of the Foreign Policy Department Ms. Kai Kaarelson; and the Counsellor for Asia, Africa, Australia, and Latin America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Political Department. During her visit to Estonia, Amb. Paez also met with the following: MFA’s Chief of Protocol Mr. Andres Tomasberg, MFA’s Undersecretary on Political Affairs Ms. Kyllike Sillaste-Elling; Director of the Division for Asia, Africa, Australia and Latin America of the MFA’s Political Department Ms. Martin Mottus; Counsellor of the same Division Mr. Andres Talvik; Secretary General of the Estonian Association of Travel Agents Ms. Kristen Lahtein; Project Manager Ms. Mariann Grencstein; the Ministry of Culture’s Undersecretary for Arts Mr. Ragnar Siil; Ministry of Culture’s Senior Specialist of the International Relations Department Ms. Reet Palis; Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Mait Palts; officials of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication, namely the Head of the European Union and International Cooperation Division Mr. Martin Roger; Advisor of the Economic Development Mr. Oliver Ait; and Executive Officer of the International Market Department Mr. Martti Kalvik; Executive Director of the e-Governance Academy Mr. Arvo Ott; and its Training Manager Ms. Annela Kiirats. Estonia is completely covered by digital mobile phone networks and in terms of DSL penetration, it ranks among the Top Ten in the world. Seventy-eight percent of its 1.3 million population are Internet users and sevenrty-five percent of its households have access to the Internet at home. Its bureaucracy has been paperless since 2003 and Cabinet meetings have been changed to paperless sessions using a web-based document system. Its economy is the 13th freest economy in the world out of 177 countries which were ranked in the Washington D.C.-based Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom. Estonia has also been ranked 21st in terms of “ease of doing business” by the World Bank. Anybody can set up and register an enterprise or business entity in Estonia electronically in 18 minutes. Ninety-nine percent of Estonians also conduct banking transactions through electronic means.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 07:20:05 +0000
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