On the 9th of September, Estonia’s A
mbassador to Singapore Veikko Kala presented his credentials to the President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
During the conversation following the presentation ceremony, Ambassador Kala and President Shanmugaratnam discussed the importance of a rules-based international order and its protection, which is particularly vital for small states. Ambassador Kala also commended Singapore for its steadfast support for Ukraine.
Kala noted that, despite the geographical distance, Estonia and Singapore share much in common as small coastal nations. “For coastal states, maritime security is of utmost importance, as is the threat posed by shadow fleets, which undermine international law, the safety of undersea cables, and the environment across global waters.
The discussion also focused on strengthening cooperation in the fields of innovation and digital development. “Estonia and Singapore are among the most advanced digital societies in the world. We are united by our belief in open economies, innovation, e-governance and digital solutions, as well as high-quality modern education,” said Kala.
Veikko Kala was born on 12 February 1981 in Tartu. He joined the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2005 and has held various positions, including at the Estonian Embassy in Vienna and as Deputy Head of Mission at the Estonian Embassy in Moscow. From 2019 to 2021, he served as Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister, and from 2021 to 2025 he was Estonia’s Ambassador to Israel.