Joao Ribeiro de Almeida, ambassador of Portugal to India, interacted with industry leaders at the interactive session organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce at Taj Bengal. The diplomat who was on his maiden visit to the city touched upon diverse topics to enhance the relationship between India and Portugal. Inviting business and tourists, he said, “Portugal has been a member of the European Union for the past 40 years and the Portuguese-speaking nations, including those in Latin America, can get access to the European market through Portugal. Portugal has improved significantly over the past 20 years, ranking as the sixth safest nation in the world with reduced labour expenses. Our economy is diversified and complementary, and different industries like manufacturing and services are similarly diverse. With only 10 million people, we receive 30 million tourists annually, making the sector a strong one. The production of renewable energy equipment, particularly in the solar and wind sectors, has moved to Portugal, which is proud of the fact that by December 2022, 94.1 per cent of Portugal’s electricity consumption will be coal-free. Portugal has shown strong resilience, and our financial industry has demonstrated adaptability and durability. We gain the advantages of a unified market and currency as members of the European Union, and we also value openness, tolerance, and maintaining positive relationships. We have an open economy, we want to safeguard foreign investments, and we welcome start-ups. India has always been a significant partner. Portugal offers compelling reasons to relocate and becomes a country that feels more continental than national.”
Welcoming the ambassador, Rajive Kaul, past president, Indian Chamber of Commerce, said, “Relations between India and Portugal trace back more than 500 years to Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer who led a seagoing voyage to Calicut in Kerala and became the first person to find a direct sea route connecting Europe and India, crossing the Atlantic Ocean and the continent of Africa. Portugal and India continue to have cordial, amicable, and unproblematic ties. Over time, these two countries’ bilateral commerce has increased gradually. In order to engage in economic activity, Portugal is increasingly looking at rising economies, particularly India. I believe the Indian Chamber of Commerce is an outstanding partner, and Joao Ribeiro de Almeida should use the director general and the present president to his benefit.”
(left) C.S. Nopany (extreme right), honorary consul of Portugal and past president of Indian Chamber of Commerce, with son Arihant and wife Shalini.
(top) Devendra Mantri with Sharad Khaitan, honorary consul, El Salvador
(below) Sanjay Budhia (right) Tanusree Shankar