Estonians raise flags both in homes and public and private offices during Independence Day. During the event, Estonians organize concerts, contests (Guinness World Record attempts), and large scale games and festivities happening in major cities around Estonia. Sports marathons such as relay race are also conducted.
Estonia is a democratic parliamentary republic and is divided into 15 counties. The capital and largest city is Tallinn. With a population of only 1.34 million, Estonia is one of the least-populous members of the European Union. Estonia was a member of the League of Nations from September 22, 1921, has been a member of the United Nations since September 17, 1991, of the European Union since May 1, 2004, and of North Atlantic Treaty Organization since March 29, 2004. Estonia has also signed the Kyoto protocol.
Food, construction, and electronic industries are currently among the most important sectors of Estonia’s industry. In 2007, the construction industry employed more than 80,000 people which make around 12 percent of the entire country’s workforce. Another important industrial sector is the machinery and chemical industry which is mainly located in Ida-Viru County and around Tallinn. The oil shale-based mining industry, which is also concentrated in East Estonia, produces around 90 percent of the entire country’s electricity.
Estonia joined the World Trade Organization on November 13, 1999. With assistance from the European Union, the World Bank, and the Nordic Investment Bank, Estonia completed most of its preparations for European Union membership by the end of 2002 and now has one of the strongest economies of the new member states of the European Union. The Estonian economy has often been described as the Baltic Tiger.
We congratulate the people and government of Estonia led by their Excellencies, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, and its Consulate head in the Philippines, Dr. Juan N. Pena, on the occasion of their National Day. We wish them success in all their endeavors.
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