Portugal’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Paulo Domingues, has called for stronger trade, investment and business partnerships between the two countries, urging companies to move beyond longstanding diplomatic ties and pursue practical commercial opportunities.
Addressing a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), the ambassador highlighted significant untapped potential in bilateral economic relations, noting that trade between Portugal and Pakistan remains below the level their complementary economies could support.
He stressed the need for direct engagement between businesses, greater market awareness and joint ventures to expand bilateral commerce and establish sustainable partnerships.
Ambassador Sees Untapped Potential in Bilateral Trade
Ambassador Domingues said relations between Portugal and Pakistan were friendly and improving, but commercial ties had yet to reach their potential. He noted that Portuguese businesses had not fully explored Pakistan’s market, partly because of limited awareness of available opportunities.
Meanwhile, Pakistani businesses have increasingly shown interest in Portugal, with business missions visiting the country to assess commercial prospects.
The ambassador said stronger interaction between the two business communities would be essential to translating diplomatic goodwill into measurable economic outcomes. He encouraged more Portuguese entrepreneurs and companies to visit Pakistan and explore opportunities for trade, sourcing and investment.
Renewable Energy, Technology and Agriculture Among Key Sectors
The ambassador identified several areas with potential for cooperation, including trade and industry, renewable energy, technology, agriculture, fruit cultivation and innovation.
He said the Portuguese Embassy could facilitate connections between companies seeking buyers, suppliers, distributors and reliable long-term commercial partners.
Highlighting Portugal’s clean-energy experience, Domingues noted that approximately 70% of the country’s electricity generation came from renewable sources. This experience could create opportunities for knowledge-sharing, technology cooperation and investment partnerships to support Pakistan’s energy transition.
Agriculture and fruit cultivation were also identified as potential areas for collaboration, alongside technology and industrial development.
Portugal’s Foreign Minister to Visit Pakistan in November
The ambassador announced that Portugal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs would visit Pakistan on November 22 and 23, during which a business forum would be organised in Islamabad.
The event is expected to bring together representatives from the foreign ministries, trade and investment agencies of both countries, along with a delegation of Portuguese companies. Discussions will focus on identifying concrete opportunities for trade, investment and joint projects.
Domingues encouraged KCCI to participate actively and mobilise Pakistani business leaders and entrepreneurs for engagement with the visiting delegation.
He said the chamber’s extensive business network could help identify relevant companies, prioritise sectors and ensure that the forum addressed the practical commercial interests of both countries.
KCCI Calls for Diversified Exports and Stronger Business Links
Welcoming the ambassador, KCCI President Talat Mahmood called for a coordinated effort to significantly expand Pakistan’s trade with Portugal. He said bilateral commerce remained well below its potential and urged both sides to create new opportunities for exporters, investors and businesses.
Mahmood emphasised the importance of stronger business-to-business connections, improved access for Pakistani exporters to the Portuguese market and diversification beyond the traditional concentration in textile products.
He said KCCI and the Portuguese Embassy could serve as bridges between the two business communities by facilitating direct engagement, sharing market intelligence and helping companies identify reliable commercial partners.
Market Access and Long-Term Partnerships in Focus
The KCCI president also urged the ambassador to guide Pakistani businesses on Portugal’s market requirements, product standards, distribution channels and potential buyers. At the same time, he encouraged Portuguese companies to explore sourcing opportunities in Pakistan.
He stressed that expanding bilateral commerce should involve more than increasing existing exports. Diversifying traded products, identifying new sectors and establishing sustainable commercial relationships would be important to generating long-term economic benefits.
The meeting highlighted the role of business chambers and diplomatic missions in connecting companies, improving market information and turning prospective opportunities into actual investment and trade.
With the planned November business forum approaching, both sides have an opportunity to advance discussions towards practical partnerships and a broader economic relationship.