German President to visit Porto on 2 March

The president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier is holding a two day official State Visit to Portugal, from 1 to 2 March. After visiting Lisbon, where he is welcomed by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Steinmeier will travel to Porto, on 2 March, where he will meet with Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira and visit the UPTEC, the Scientific and Technologic Park from Porto University.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier will hold meetings with researchers and entrepreneurs installed at the UPTEC, namely Addvolt, Bottlebooks, Fibersail, HPS and XING and discuss innovation, energy and software development. The President will also have the opportunity to meet with German students of Porto University and will visit Fraunhofer Portugal, a non-profit private association founded by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the largest organization for applied research in Europe that has a research centre at UPTEC.

The German President will open the LOOP structure, by start-up FAHR 021.1 to mark the 10 years of this technological park.

At the invitation of the Mayor of Porto, Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit House Museum Guerra Junqueiro and jointly with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, will open the exhibition "Encontros", a display of Günter Grass's watercolours, etchings and sculptures. The exhibit will open to the public later that day.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier heads to the Palácio da Bolsa, where he will be enthroned by the Port Wine Brotherhood. The ceremony will be followed by lunch in the iconic "Salão Árabe", offered by Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, and chaired by the Portuguese Head of State.

Before returning to Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier will visit the Church of S. Francisco and go for a stroll in landmark Ribeira in the city of Porto.