Estonian MPs establish Estonia-Nepal parliamentary group

TALLINN – Six members of the Riigikogu this week formed a group for interparliamentary ties between Estonia and Nepal, which aims to start engaging with Nepal at the parliamentary level and to support the people who consider Nepal important.

Toomas Jurgenstein, the chairman of the group, said that the number of people who consider Nepal important has grown in Estonia year by year.

"Primarily, that country is visited by nature tourism and mountaineering enthusiasts, but lately quite many people have been traveling there also for cultural purposes. The creation of a parliamentary group would uphold the stance of those who consider Nepal important and show that interest in Nepal is also felt at the parliament's level," the Social Democrat MP said.

He added that the group hopes to meet in the coming few months with the Estonian honorary consul in Nepal, Nava Raj Dahal, to organize a lecture introducing Nepal to members of the Riigikogu and to look for cooperation opportunities with the parliament of Nepal.

In addition to Jurgenstein, the Estonia-Nepal parliamentary group includes Jaak Juske, Kalvi Kova, Peeter Ernits, Yoko Alender and Ruuben Kaalep as members.

Parliamentary groups help members of the Riigikogu communicate with other national parliaments, carry out Estonia's foreign policy, and promote Estonia around the world. Through support groups and associations, members of the parliament and parliamentary groups can draw attention to a specific topic and support and protect the interests of a narrower field of life.

The 14th Riigikogu composition has so far formed altogether 68 parliamentary groups and 97 support groups.