Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted India Export Day, bringing together Estonian and Indian entrepreneurs and government representatives to share knowledge and experiences of the Indian business environment and to create new business contacts.
The day was opened by Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who highlighted that India’s economy has doubled over the past 10 years. India’s growth has been exponential, but the potential is far greater still. Such exponential growth also creates opportunities for Estonia. Make sure to seize them,” Vseviov advised participants at the business seminar.
Entrepreneurs were also greeted by Sigrid Harjo, Member of the Management Board of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), followed by a conversation between Estonia’s Ambassador to India, Marje Luup, and India’s Ambassador to Estonia, Shri Ashish Kumar Sinha, on business culture and opportunities. Both ambassadors confirmed that there is potential for cooperation across a wide range of sectors, from food and beverages to IT and electronics.
The panel with Estonian entrepreneurs was moderated by EIS’s Export Adviser for India, Vinod Basliyal, and featured Aare Reintam, COO of CybExer, Leila Haugas, B2B Marketing and Communications Partner at Mikskaar Miksgrow, Timo Vikson, Co-founder of LEI Register, and Veljo Einberg, Head of Sales at Estonian Cell.
Entrepreneurs agreed that the Indian market cannot be overestimated, and that the key lies in local presence and trustworthy local partners. “In our case, this meant buying out a local competitor who is now helping us expand and navigate India’s complexities,” explained Timo Vikson of LEI Register.
“It’s not possible to do business in India without going there in person. You need to travel to India, attend trade fairs and events, and share tea with potential partners in accordance with Indian customs,” said Aare Reintam, COO of CybExer, sharing his experience.
He also highlighted the support of the embassy and EIS’s export adviser. “The embassy can open doors and windows, and their involvement adds credibility, showing that we are a serious company,” Reintam added.
“It’s also important not to underestimate the knowledge and skills of Indian people. We tend to think that innovation is centred here, but in reality, there is much to learn from India as well,” Veljo Einberg from Estonian Cell stressed.
Leila Haugas from Mikskaar Miksgrow spoke about presenting their products via video calls during the pandemic, but agreed that trade fairs and business events remain an essential channel for building business contacts.
Further experiences were shared by Taavi Kotka, head of JIO Estonia, and Otto Pukk, CEO of Incap, both long involved with India, while Katre Kõvask, CEO of YOOK, spoke about her plans to enter the Indian market.
On the Indian side, the discussion included Ravikiran Tirumala, Commissioner of the Government of Telangana State; Mukesh Kumar Madhra, Vice President and Head of API Lifecycle Management at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories; Aditi Gharpure, Deputy Chief Engineer for International Business Development at Larsen & Toubro Precision Engineering and Systems; and Khushboo Pandey, CEO of Fytika. The debate was moderated by Rajeev Koul, CEO and Managing Partner at NorIndic Research and Consulting LLP.
To conclude the day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EIS presented the India-focused plans of Team Estonia’s business diplomacy for 2025–2026.
All entrepreneurs interested in further information on the opportunities of the Indian market are advised to begin with the market strategy for India, after which they are encouraged to contact the Estonian Embassy in India or EIS export advisers.
Photos (Aron Urb): India Market Day 2025 | Flickr
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