Taiwan has welcomed Estonia as its newest partner in the drone industry. The visit by the Estonian defense delegation has created new collaborative opportunities in this sector. On January 6, 2025, representatives attended a dinner hosted by the Taiwan Excellence Drone Overseas Business Alliance, with Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, Kuo Jyh-huei, in attendance.
The high-level delegation included Kristo Enn Vaga, chairman of the Estonian Parliament's pro-Taiwan group, and parliament member Kalle Laanet. Notable industry presence came from Kusti Salme, CEO of defense startup Frankenburg Technologies and former Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Defense.
Minister Kuo highlighted that the Estonian parliamentary group has consistently supported Taiwan, advocating for the nation in international forums while actively promoting bilateral exchanges. The delegation's primary focus centers on exploring collaboration opportunities in the drone industry.
Estonia has established itself as one of Europe's leading nations in digital transformation and technological innovation, particularly excelling in smart technology, cybersecurity, and unmanned systems. By combining Taiwan's hardware manufacturing prowess with Estonia's technological innovation, both sides aim to foster a closer partnership in drone and related technology sectors, potentially creating new models of industrial collaboration.
The delegation's visit focuses on gaining comprehensive insights into Taiwan's technical capabilities and discussing various cooperation opportunities, facilitating direct engagement with several domestic drone manufacturers.
Minister Kuo emphasized Taiwan's strong research and development capabilities, exceptional engineering talent, and mature semiconductor supply chain. These foundational elements in drone industry development position Taiwan as the ideal partner for global entities seeking alternatives to China-based supply chains.