Kadri Humal-Ayal: the heart of Estonia in Africa

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‘Kenya is where all the embassies and African headquarters of international companies are. It is a hub. When thinking about relations in Sub-Saharan Africa, your options are Nairobi or Cape Town. However, Cape Town is completely to the south and does not therefore provide the opportunities that Nairobi does.’

Kadri Humal-Ayal has lived in Kenya since the early 1990s and has been Honorary Consul of Estonia in Kenya since 2009. Nairobi has become one of the African hubs for both continental and global organisations. For example, it is home to the United Nations Office at Nairobi – one of four main UN secretariat duty stations. All of this make Nairobi an interesting international hub and creates opportunities for Estonia.

Kadri is an active member of the Rotary Club and has has been involved in Rotary grants for humanitarian projects for many years. Over the years, Kadri has worked in HR development and business consulting, owned a stamp factory, and created networks for Estonian companies in East Africa.

In 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognised Kadri for her long-term work in Kenya and for the development of relations between Africa and Estonia with the Third Class Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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