“Now more than ever, we need to make Europe more competitive on the global stage,” he remarked. “We cannot allow innovation to remain isolated: we must embed it in our industry and in our economy. We have to reinforce the common market.”
The head of state says that mutual trust and a true spirit of cooperation are needed alongside technological investment. “There are plenty of opportunities for us to work together in IT, energy and defence,” he noted. “Let’s make the most of them to serve Europe’s interests. Let us invest not only in technology, but also in trust, and in cooperation across borders.”
Visiting Mittweida’s business and innovation centre with a delegation of Estonian entrepreneurs, President Karis talked about Estonia’s journey in fostering a digital society and encouraged the establishment of business ties between Estonia and Saxony.
“That will allow us to turn challenges into opportunities and innovation while creating real economic value and new jobs,” he posited. “Smart, successful entrepreneurship inspires young people to study science, technology and engineering, paving the way for even greater innovation.”
The head of state stressed the need to link technology, education and international cooperation in order to boost Europe’s competitiveness. Visiting Estonian companies which operate in Saxony, he yesterday opened Nortal’s new offices in the region, and was today given a tour of Skeleton’s new factory near Leipzig, which is due to be completed shortly.
During a visit to Chemnitz, one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2025, President Karis met with the city’s leaders before being joined by an Estonian cultural delegation to explore an exhibition entitled Europäische Realitäten, which shows how European artists portrayed, in a realistic way, people’s everyday lives and society and changes in them in the 1920s and 1930s.
The business delegation accompanying the head of state on his trip to Germany includes Estonian companies seeking to foster cooperation with partners in Saxony in such areas as the digitalisation of industry and the development of custom-made e-solutions: Insta Globe Engineering, Gofore Estonia, Praktikal Education, Proekspert, NOTE Pärnu, CGI Estonia, Net Group, Skeleton Technologies, Nortal and ADM Interactive, as well as the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce and the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency.
The cultural delegation includes representatives of Eesti Kontsert, the Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art, the Estonian Art Museum, the Estonian Literature Centre, the University of Tartu and its library, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn University, the Estonian Academy of Arts, the Arvo Pärt Centre, the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Gallery Art&Tonic, Music Estonia, Tartu Art Museum, Theater Junge Generation and the Ministry of Culture.
Gallery: Raigo Pajula/Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCdgTh
