President Alar Karis continues state visit to Portugal

TALLINN - President Alar Karis continues his state visit to Portugal on Friday at the invitation of Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The visit focuses on developing the good relations between Estonia and Portugal, including defense cooperation within the NATO framework, economic ties, and collaboration in science and education.

"Estonia and Portugal are united by common values and the understanding that European security requires unity and shared responsibility. This state visit reaffirms our readiness to deepen cooperation in security, the economy, as well as in science and education," President Karis said.

On Thursday, President Karis met with Portuguese head of state Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Speaker of Parliament José Pedro Aguiar Branco, Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas. The meetings focused on strengthening European security and continuing support for Ukraine. Global issues within the framework of UN cooperation were also discussed.

On Friday, the presidents of Estonia and Portugal will open the Estonia-Portugal Business Forum, which focuses on strengthening economic ties between the two countries and on digital innovation. Accompanied by the business delegation, the Estonian head of state will also visit Bolt's office in Lisbon.

To enhance defense cooperation, President Karis will visit the Monte Real Air Base, where he will also meet with Portuguese pilots who have participated in the Baltic Air Policing mission in Estonia.

As part of the educational cooperation between Estonia and Portugal, a representative of Tallinn University accompanying the head of state will sign a cooperation agreement with the partner university ISEC Lisboa. To foster economic relations, a cooperation agreement will also be concluded between the Portuguese Association of Environmental Technology Companies and the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Estonian head of state is accompanied on the visit by members of the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament), Annely Akkermann, chair of the Estonia-Portugal friendship group, and group member Raimond Kaljulaid, as well as Brigadier General Viktor Kalnitski, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces. The education delegation includes Ülle Jaakmaa, rector of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, and its administrative director Marek Metslaid; Meelis Kitsing, rector of the Estonian Business School (EBS); Õnne Uus, an educational psychologist from Tallinn University; and Hanna Kanep, secretary general of the Rectors' Conference.

The business delegation, comprising around twenty members, includes Estonian entrepreneurs from various sectors: legal services, IT and digital solutions; green technology, energy efficiency, and electronics; defense and drone technology; export and trade; tourism and travel services; and the timber industry. Representatives from the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also part of the delegation.