The government of Venezuela today welcomed Portugal’s Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, who leads a Portuguese business delegation interested in investing and expanding businesses in Venezuelan territory.
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01/11/2026
by
Lusa
O government of Venezuela today welcomed the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion of Portugal, Manuel Castro Almeida, who leads a Portuguese business delegation interested in investing and expanding businesses in Venezuelan territory.
“ We welcome Venezuela to Portuguese Minister Manuel Castro Almeida, who is accompanied by a delegation from more than 30 companies interested in investing in Venezuela,” says the new Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Oliver Blanco, in his Instagram account.
On the same platform, Oliver Blanco, who on October 29 was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in place of Félix Plasencia, also underlines the relationship of friendship between Lisbon and Caracas.
“ Under the leadership of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, friendship among our countries is strengthened with a diplomatic agenda aimed at boosting investments, expanding cooperation and generating concrete benefits for the people”, reads in the publication.
Oliver Blanco, who until the end of October managed Venezuela's diplomatic relations with Europe and North America, follows the publication with photos of a meeting he had with Manuel Castro Almeida, in which it is possible to see other people, including Portugal's ambassador to Caracas, Frederico Silva.
Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, today began 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 Portuguese Investment and Foreign Trade Agency (AICEP), Ana Casaca, Minister Manuel 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.