Country Business Briefing at Expo presents Portugal as ‘an ideal business partner’

Portugal’s talent and innovation were in the spotlight today at the ‘Portugal Business Briefing’, an event held within the scope of Portugal’s National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, to promote the country’s trade and investment opportunities.

 

The business seminar was attended by the Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco André, whose opening speech highlighted Portugal as an ideal business partner, stressing that tradition, coupled with innovation and sustainability, are priorities for the country.

 

“Portugal is an ideal business partner […]. Sustainability is a priority and a concern for our industry. Both Portugal and the Emirates have worked to develop their relations, successfully,” said the secretary of state at the ‘Portugal Business Briefing’.

 

The secretary of state also recalled that society and world economies are still faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, but noted it is necessary to look ahead, think about recovery and new forms of production.

 

“The Portuguese Pavilion is a showcase of what Portugal represents and has to offer,” he said, hoping that the event will attract new investors to the country.

 

The event also featured presentations by the President of the Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency (AICEP) and Portugal’s Commissioner-General to Expo 2020 Dubai, Luís Castro HenriquesINESC TEC Administrator, José Carlos Caldeiraand the President of Siemens Portugal, Pedro Pires de Miranda.

In a presentation titled ‘Why Portugal?’, the President of AICEP presented some of Portugal’s economic indicators and its potential as an investment destination, given the quality of education, the country’s skilled workforce and its fluency in various languages.

 

Data that is confirmed, for example, by the percentage (13%) of foreign students in Portugal’s higher education system in 2020/2021, or the number of trained engineers which, according to the OECD, represents the third highest percentage in Europe.

 

As for investment, Luís Castro Henriques highlights the participation of APG Asset Management, Swiss Life AM and the national service of Korean pensions in Brisa or the participation of Allianz Capital Partners in Galp Gás Natural. In addition, Portugal’s “strategic location” was hailed for allowing access to other European markets, with a potential of up to 500 million people, according to AICEP.

 

Lisbon was also highlighted as a potential bridge to other Portuguese-speaking markets, which represent around 260 million people.

 

Regarding its own institutional support, AICEP notes that it provides “relevant information” for investors, “facilitates contacts with companies already settled in Portugal” and local partners, promotes “direct negotiation” with clients to establish a “rounded package that satisfies the needs of investors”, while also facilitating the contact with government agencies and service providers, to the level of electricity, telecommunications and gas.