Delcy Rodríguez calls for the participation of Portuguese companies in Venezuela

A acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, today in Caracas called for the active participation of Portuguese companies and the local Portuguese community in the country's economic recovery process, pointing to a new cycle of bilateral cooperation.

"We want this growth to be done hand in hand with the business sector of Portugal, Europe, to participate in a single transit to the recovery of our relations, including trade relations," he said.

Delcy Rodríguez spoke in Caracas to hundreds of entrepreneurs at the Portugal-Venezuela Business Forum, at the Portuguese Center, inserted in the Portuguese business mission to the country, led by Portugal's Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida.

The governor highlighted the historical importance and the indestructible links between Portuguese and Venezuelans, stressing that they are “two peoples who have decided to become brothers, who have never been a wall, but always a bridge” and that the visit of the Portuguese delegation reflects “interest in a new economic cycle”.

Delcy Rodríguez referred to the difficult times experienced in Venezuela due to the economic blockade, stating that in the last decade it represented a negative impact on bilateral trade relations.

"This decade, which for us is a decade lost to a generation, also had a negative impact on trade relations between Venezuela and Portugal. There is a graph showing what trade between Portugal and Venezuela was like and how, from 2015, when sanctions were imposed, this relationship was affected”, he stressed.

In this context, the interim President released data indicating that the trade exchange between the two countries was around 637 million dollars in 2012, falling from 2015 until it was set at 26 million dollars in 2025.

However, he stressed that the current scenario is of hope and growth.

‘Venezuela is leading, as you know, Latin America’s economic growth, where the projection of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) also puts us at the forefront of growth for this year 2026,’ he stressed, adding that domestic consumption has increased by 23% in the last 12 months.

Delcy Rodríguez pointed out that the country's development plan by 2040 intends to consolidate Venezuela as a diverse power, pointing out immediate opportunities for Portuguese business in sectors such as construction and infrastructure, as well as energy, oil, monetary intermediation, trade, accommodation and restoration.

The ruler also left a heartfelt tribute to the local Portuguese community: “In Venezuela’s DNA itself is the presence of the Portuguese community that arrived in our country, which came with a dream, with its historical roots, but which also rooted in Venezuela and today we can say that they have two countries”.

At the end of the intervention, the interim president publicly thanked Portugal for its support during the June double earthquake, recalling that Lisbon decreed a day of national mourning and sent rescue and humanitarian aid teams: “Thank you, Portugal, for the support provided, [...] making us feel like brothers again”.