BLS International Services Limited has brought former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on board as its Global Strategic Advisor, strengthening its advisory team as the company looks to expand its international footprint and deepen its work in technology-enabled government and citizen services.

Ilves, who served two terms as Estonia’s President between 2006 and 2016, will also become part of BLS International’s Global Advisory Board. His appointment comes after former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined the company in a similar advisory capacity.

A former diplomat and public official, Ilves has been closely associated with Estonia’s emergence as one of the world’s prominent digital-government economies. His public career has included extensive engagement with e-governance, cybersecurity, digital policy and the use of technology to improve delivery of government services.

At BLS International, Ilves is expected to advise the company on its global strategy, particularly in areas involving digital transformation, e-governance and technology-led citizen services. He will also contribute perspectives on BLS International’s engagement with governments and other institutional stakeholders.

The appointment is significant for BLS International as the company seeks to strengthen its position in visa, consular and citizen-service outsourcing while increasingly incorporating digital platforms into its operations.

Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director of BLS International, said the company is entering a new stage of expansion and intends to further strengthen its relationships with governments and stakeholders internationally.

Aggarwal said the addition of Ilves would bring considerable experience and a global perspective to the organisation as BLS builds an advisory group comprising former political leaders and senior international figures.

Ilves, meanwhile, highlighted India's rapid development of digital public infrastructure and technology-driven public services. He said India's experience in creating accessible and citizen-focused digital systems was increasingly relevant internationally.

He said BLS International was well placed to take such technology-enabled service capabilities to a wider global market and indicated that his work with the company would focus on supporting its international expansion and the development of secure and efficient citizen-service systems.

With Ilves joining shortly after Morrison, BLS International is expanding a high-profile global advisory network as it seeks greater engagement with governments and opportunities in digitally delivered public services across international markets.