At a formal ceremony held on Thursday 24 January, the Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rainer Saks opened the Estonian honorary consulate in San Diego. Estonian Ambassador to the United States Jonatan Vseviov and Consul General Kairi Künka also took part in the ceremony. The Estonian Honorary Consul in San Diego is Michael Chan.
According to Rainer Saks, the consulate helps to bolster Estonian representation on the West Coast and improve Estonian-US business relations in the region. “Honorary consuls are partners of our foreign service and serve as important extensions when it comes to the protection of Estonian citizens, advancing the interests of businesses and introducing Estonian culture abroad. I am glad that Estonia has increased its influence with another honorary consulate in a region that is a priority for us,” Saks said. Estonia plans to open a foreign representation on the US West Coast in the near future to serve Estonian citizens and business interests in the fast-developing region.
Michael Chan is a US businessman who was the Estonian Honorary Consul in Phoenix, Arizona in 2011-2018, and continues to serve as an honorary consul in San Diego. He will serve the Southern California region (California) and Clark County (Nevada). The address of the consulate is 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037.
The Republic of Estonia has 15 honorary consuls in the United States and they play an important role in advancing Estonian interests in the country. Honorary consuls are prominent and respected locals, and one of their functions is to provide consular services and consular help to Estonian citizens abroad. They also help advance economic and cultural relations.
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmzDws16
Additional information:
Britta Tarvis
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
[email protected]
+372 637 7627 / +372 5194 7045
