Celebrating a Milestone: Opening of the Honorary Consulate of Estonia in New York

On September 26, 2024, a significant milestone was reached as H.E. Mr. Alar Karis, President of Estonia, officially inaugurated the Honorary Consulate of Estonia for the State of New York. We are proud to announce that Ms. Airi Hämmalov has been appointed as the Honorary Consul of Estonia in New York. Ms. Hämmalov, a distinguished M&A and Private Equity Partner at Baker McKenzie, will play a pivotal role in strengthening ties between Estonia and the United States.

Edward Mermelstein, New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs, also delivered a congratulatory speech, highlighting the importance of international collaboration.

The inauguration was followed by an insightful panel discussion titled “From Digital to Post-Digital: Unlocking the Value of AI,” featuring opening remarks from H.E. Mr. Margus Tsahkna, Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs. The event took place in the heart of Manhattan, just steps away from the iconic Bryant Park, at Baker McKenzie’s office on 5th Avenue.

Representatives from the Baltic American Chamber of Commerce (BACC) were honored to attend this significant occasion. BACC, a not-for-profit organization based in New York, is dedicated to supporting business connections between the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—and the USA. This event marks our commitment to enhancing economic growth and fostering collaborative opportunities between these regions.

We were also extremely happy to see Laura Kalam, who did an internship at our chambers several years ago. Now she is a correspondent for the most famous Estonian Public Broadcasting ERR in Washington, where she reported on this event. We are proud of her career achievements.

We look forward to the positive impact this consulate will have on strengthening Estonian-American relations and driving innovation in our communities. Congratulations to Ms. Hämmalov and the entire team at the Honorary Consulate!