Lisbon, Portugal, 11-12 May 2016 - His Highness the Aga Khan made a two-day official visit to Lisbon. During the visit he met with the President of the Republic His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as well as a number of senior government officials including Prime Minister His Excellency António Costa, President of the Parliament His Excellency Mr Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues and Foreign Minister His Excellency Mr Augusto Santos Silva.

During the visit, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education of the Portuguese Republic and the Ismaili Imamat signed an Agreement of Cooperation to strengthen research capacity and to improve the quality of life in Portugal and in Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly in Africa. This endeavour will be supported by the Ismaili Imamat with a 10 million euro grant over 10 years.

This is the first official visit of His Highness the Aga Khan to Portugal following the entry into force of the Agreement between the Portuguese Republic and the Ismaili Imamat for the establishment of the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat in Portugal in November 2015. The landmark agreement builds upon a series of earlier accords dating back to the first Protocol of Cooperation signed in 2005, and a longstanding relationship with the country that spans several decades.