Delcy says Lisbon and Caracas want to “promote new strategic alliances”

A interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, declared, after a meeting with Portugal’s Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, that the two countries want to promote bilateral trade and “new strategic alliances”.

Rodríguez and Castro Almeida met on Monday at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas.

“ We reaffirmed the desire to move forward in bilateral dialogue, strengthen our productive capacities, boost trade and promote new strategic alliances for the development and welfare of our peoples,” Delcy Rodríguez wrote on social network X.

The meeting was released by the interim president of Venezuela, in a message on local social networks and took place in the framework of an official visit by the Portuguese Minister of Economics, aimed at strengthening cooperation links and relaunching trade relations between the two countries.

“ We strengthen our bonds of friendship and cooperation with Portugal! I received at the Miraflores Palace a delegation from the Portuguese Republic, led by Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida”, wrote Delcy Rodríguez on social network X.

Following the message, the interim president of Venezuela released a video with images of the meeting she held with the Portuguese delegation.

The Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, began on Sunday an official three-day visit to Venezuela with the aim of strengthening political and economic relations between the two countries.

Accompanied by the Secretary of State of the Portuguese Communities, Emídio Sousa, and by the president of the Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal (AICEP), Ana Casaca, Minister Manuel Castro Almeida has scheduled meetings with the Venezuelan authorities in Caracas, and with representatives of the Portuguese community residing in the country, according to a statement sent to the editorials on Sunday.

The delegation that integrates this visit includes about 30 Portuguese companies “representatives of key sectors of the national economy”, such as energy, construction and equipment, banking, health and pharmaceutical, technology, food, tourism and hospitality.

One of the central moments of this trip will be the Portugal-Venezuela Business Forum, organized by AICEP, which will take place today and which aims to identify business and investment opportunities, and to promote new partnerships between companies in both countries.

According to the press release, during this visit the reopening of the AICEP representation in Caracas will also be announced.

The Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion is part of the visit “in the new phase that Venezuela is going through and in which Portugal wants to be present”, taking into account the proximity resulting from the historical relationship between the two countries, the importance of the Portuguese and Portuguese community and the capacity of Portuguese companies.

“[This mission] has a strong political, economic and business dimension, aiming to strengthen relations between the two countries and create new opportunities for Portuguese companies in areas where we have recognized experience and capabilities,” said the minister, quoted in the statement.