Trade policy. International diplomacy. Baltic cider. One sentence rarely gets to contain all three, yet here we are. We’re intrigued.
The Estonian Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EACCI) will host its annual networking evening on Thursday, 14 May 2026, at the UTS Startups Events Space in Sydney — bringing together diplomats, trade experts, business leaders and the kind of people whose eyes light up when saying things like “cross-border collaboration opportunities”.
This year’s discussion arrives at an especially interesting moment, following the conclusion of negotiations for the EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement. In other words: Europe and Australia are having a serious conversation about trade, investment and future cooperation — and Sydney gets front-row seats.
Event information
📅 Thursday, 14 May 2026
🕠 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm
📍 UTS Startups, 3 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007
🎟️ Free for EACCI members | $15 non-members
🔗 Tickets: Eventbrite registration page
One of the evening’s headline speakers will be Estonia’s Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Jaan Reinhold, whose diplomatic career has taken him across Europe, Asia and the Middle East before arriving in Australia in 2024.
Ambassador Jaan has become a familiar and warmly regarded presence within both the Estonian community and broader diplomatic circles — calm, thoughtful, internationally experienced and, importantly, genuinely willing to show up, meet people and support initiatives beyond the formal handshakes and podium moments.
Joining him will be Caragh Johnson from the European Australian Business Council and Joanna Pocztowska from the Delegation of the European Union to Australia, bringing perspectives from the front lines of EU trade negotiations and economic cooperation.
But while the presentations may focus on international agreements and economic strategy, there is another part of the evening quietly attracting attention.
Cider.
Not just any cider, either. The networking reception will feature tastings from the visiting Baltic Cider delegation — producers from Estonia, Latvia and Finland bringing natural ciders made from freshly pressed local apples to Australian audiences.
And if you grew up in or around Estonia, there is a fair chance these are the same kinds of apples you once climbed slightly questionable heights to pick from a relative’s apple tree, convinced the best ones always lived dangerously close to the top branches.
This is the sort of cider that makes you realise some drinks were clearly designed for sitting in a sunlit orchard while contemplating life choices and mild Northern European melancholy. Forget fluorescent cans labelled “mango flavour explosion” — the Baltics have entered the chat. You’ll want to know more. And probably sample more of whatever they’re pouring.
The cider team will also include some familiar faces. Among them is Raul Seepter, Managing Director of Nordic Beverages, long-time EACCI member and a well-known figure in bringing Estonian and Nordic beverages to Australia long before Baltic cider became the cool kid at the international drinks table.
The event is designed for professionals working across trade, startups, investment, innovation and international business, though realistically it may also appeal to anyone who enjoys European politics, intelligent conversation and free-flowing networking energy that slowly becomes more enthusiastic after cider sampling begins.
And honestly, in a world currently held together largely by coffee, calendar invites and fragile optimism, an evening dedicated to building international connections over Baltic apples feels strangely reassuring. Enjoy!
Read more
🔗 EACCI event announcement and more about EACCI here
