Minister visits Venezuela to strengthen political and business relations

O Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, Castro Almeida, today began an official three-day visit to Venezuela in order to strengthen 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 Castro Almeida will have several meetings with the Venezuelan authorities in Caracas, and with representatives of the Portuguese community residing in the country, according to a statement sent today to the editorials.

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 aims to identify business and investment opportunities and promote new partnerships between companies in both countries.

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

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.

Castro Almeida also highlights the role of the Portuguese and Portuguese community, which considers “a real bridge between the two economies” and also underlines the importance of reopening AICEP’s representation in Caracas, to “ensure that this visit is not an isolated moment, but the starting point for a closer economic relationship, accompanied and result-oriented”.

“ During this visit, which aims to bring companies closer to both countries and to find business opportunities, I will have the opportunity to verify the reconstruction process after the earthquake, when I visited the country and supported Portuguese associations acting on the ground ", says in the same statement, the Secretary of State of the Portuguese Communities.

For Emídio Sousa, “this is also a time to strengthen contact with the Portuguese and Portuguese community, a community that is deeply rooted in Venezuela and contributes greatly to the economic and social life of the country, being one of the great links between our two peoples”.