In the conversation following the presentation of credentials, Martinson and President Marcos Jr spoke of developing relations both bilaterally as well as in terms of geopolitical regional challenges.
“The Philippines is mainly interested in Estonia’s experience in digital affairs and e-governance, with a special focus on cyber defence,” Martinson said.
President Marcos Jr said the Philippines was facing a growing volume of cyberattacks and the practical use of Estonia’s experience in meeting the related challenges was increasingly critical. “Just like in tango, we get to results more smoothly with a trusted partner.”
In addition to the maritime and education sectors, and perfecting the contractual basis between the countries, the changed geopolitical context has opened additional cooperation opportunities in areas linked to security and supply chains of critical raw materials.
Mait Martinson was born in 1969 in Pärnu. He obtained a degree in economics from the State University of Moscow in 1993 and then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his long diplomatic career, Martinson has worked on economic policy at the Ministry in Tallinn, and also at the Estonian embassy in Washington on relations with the USA, Canada and Mexico. He was a trade negotiator for Estonia during European Union accession, served as the director general of the State Protocol Department and as the Estonian ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Ireland, and Belarus. For the past six years, Martinson headed the Strategic Goods Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Martinson is co-accredited as an ambassador to Malaysia and Japan; he resides in Tokyo.
A video of the event is available here: https://youtu.be/xVcTu16e1ZI?si=53Cozf6a4eOE1uHx
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