High Potential For Expansion Of UAE-Portugal Investment Highlighted At Online Roadshow

Over 100 UAE businessmen joined an online roadshow to learn about opportunities available in Portugal, particularly in the Ribatejo region, for business and investment. Originally, the roadshow was scheduled to be held at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC Dubai, but was converted into a webinar because of Covid-19.

Addressing the webinar, Mr. Joaquim Moreira de Lemos, Ambassador of Portugal to UAE, said he was delighted to see “the huge interest and participation online of Emirati and Portuguese companies” and added that the current bilateral relationships between UAE and Portugal were good enough to build a stronger exchange of business and investment.

“The Embassy of Portugal in Abu Dhabi welcomes all Portuguese companies that want to work in UAE, as well as encourages Emirati entrepreneurs and investors to visit and discover the great potential of Portugal and the Ribatejo region,” the ambassador added.

Mr. Omar Khan, Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during his participation in the Online Roadshow described the event as “an ideal platform for companies in UAE to learn more about Portugal’s economy, business landscape, and investment opportunities”.

To an audience of almost 100 Emirati and Portuguese participating companies, Mr. Khan remarked that “the strong turnout for the event reflects growing appetite among local companies to explore the Portuguese market”, and added that “there is huge potential to expand bilateral cooperation in key sectors, such as renewable energy, agriculture, and food security, manufacturing, tourism, health care, and education.”

In addition to these top dignitaries, the webinar included the participation of His Excellency, Ahmed Elmetwally, from the Private Office of Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Saeed Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Mr. Paul Epping, Chairman of XponentialEQ, Mr. Rabih I. Khoury, Managing Partner of Middle East Venture Partners, Mr. Saul Tarazona, Founder and CEO of Stringgroup, Mr. Nazar Musa, Managing Partner of Gulf Reps Ltd., Mr. Caetano Leitão, president of the Portuguese Business Council, and Mr. Daniel Pontes, Economic Counsellor to the Portuguese Embassy.

Nersant, the business association of Santarem Region, was represented by Mr. João Salvador, director of innovation and competitiveness and Mr. José Coimeiro, Board member. They introduced the Ribatejo region to the participants and highlighted the vast business and investment opportunities that Ribatejo offers.

Nersant believes this event was the first step towards establishing longterm and profitable business and investment relations between Dubai and Portugal, and expressed the hope that it would inspire the participants to find more about Ribatejo, in terms of investment, tourism, and business opportunities.

The online UAE-Portugal Roadshow was part of a worldwide series of events that embrace Brazil, United States, France, Canada and Belgium. RibatejoGlobal is a project co-financed by Compete2020, Portugal2020 and ERDF – European Regional Development Fund.