Thank your very much for your kind words and hospitality. My state visit to Finland will be over in your lovely town. It has been a very pleasant and fruitful experience with a diversity of important contacts, both at the political and business level.

As you know we come from the University of Oulu, which is well known not only in Finland but also amongst people of science and students in Portugal for its exchange programs. The university is in fact one of the main motors of this city which, from what I know, has the highest rate of youngsters in all Finland, the fastest growing economy and a very high level of education.

In many ways, your region is an example of balanced development, where the rural world is preserved and has found its place alongside high technology industries.

Having been Mayor of Lisbon for several years I know how demanding it can be to run a city. Perseverance, attention to detail, patience and imagination are needed, on a daily basis, to try to solve all the problems of urban life, without forgetting, at the same time, the need for progress and development.

I am sure that the welfare of the citizens and progress are always in the minds of the Mayor and the City Council of this town. Allow me to congratulate you for the extraordinary work accomplished and at the same time, wish you, and through you the people of Oulu, the best successes for the future.