Estonia on 22 February opened an honorary consulate in the St Petersburg, Florida, area; the honorary consul at the newest consulate is Kaie Tiina Põhi Latterner.
The consulate was opened by the director general of the consular department at the Estonian ministry of foreign affairs, Kersti Eesmaa, who said that the consulate will help offer consular support to the local Estonian community and further develop Estonian-US business relations in the region.
“The honorary consulate in St Petersburg is the second of its kind to open in the US this year – only in January we celebrated the opening of an honorary consulate in San Diego,” Eesmaa said in a statement. The honorary consulate in the San Diego area was opened on 24 January in La Jolla, CA.
“Honorary consuls with their energy and network offer valuable support to Estonia in representing its interests abroad, especially in a large country like the United States. Not only do they provide consular services – they are also important champions for making Estonian enterprises and culture known in the world,” she added.
Advancing Estonian interests
Kaie Tiina Põhi Latterner is an American small business owner and an active member of the Estonian Society of Central Florida. She started as the honorary consul in October 2018, taking over from her predecessor, Lisa Ann Mets. She will serve tens of counties in Florida, including Pinellas, Hillsborough and Orange County.
The address of the consulate is 241 173rd Avenue East, North Redington Beach, FL, 33708.
Estonia has 15 honorary consuls in the US 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.
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Cover: Kersti Eesmaa, the director general of the consular department at the Estonian ministry of foreign affairs, Kairi Künka, the consul general in New York, Kaie Tiina Põhi Latterner, the honorary consul in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Jaak Treimann, the honorary consul in Los Angeles, at the opening of Estonia’s honorary consulate in St. Petersburg, Florida (images courtesy of Estonian foreign ministry).
