“Portugal is making a significant investment in the Osaka Expo, aiming to not only showcase Portuguese culture and tradition but also to reap economic benefits,” stated Ricardo Arroja. He was speaking to journalists following a meeting on Portugal’s participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka held at the organization’s headquarters.
He noted, “Portugal and Japan already have a well-established bilateral relationship, with considerable growth potential.”
The Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency, AICEP, focuses on promoting the internationalization of the Portuguese economy, especially through international activities that Portuguese companies may engage in Japan and other locations. Japan acts as a platform for Portuguese presence in Asia, alongside efforts to attract foreign direct investment to Portugal.
Ricardo Arroja highlighted that Japan is a market where Portuguese companies are already operational, with around 1,000 companies currently exporting goods directly to Japan.
“The objective is clearly to expand far beyond this number, making Japan not only a base for Portuguese exports but also for the internationalization of ambitious Portuguese companies with the necessary resources to operate in distant markets like Japan.”
Simultaneously, “Portugal also benefits from Japanese foreign direct investment in various sectors such as agriculture, industry, energy, technology, and science,” he added.
“There are myriad opportunities for Portugal and Japan to jointly enhance their economic ties, particularly as Portugal adeptly integrates its rich traditions with modernity, technology, and science, elements that catch the interest of advanced economies like Japan,” Arroja emphasized.
The AICEP head outlined domains where Portugal excels internationally, including in renewable energy leadership and competitiveness in life sciences.
He mentioned modernized agricultural production technologies, aeronautics where Portugal ranks highly, and technical textiles as areas of note.
“Portugal doesn’t lack opportunities to benefit from Japanese foreign direct investment, with current Japanese investment in Portugal amounting to approximately 600 million euros,” he stated.
Therefore, “there is potential growth beyond this amount, given increased awareness of Portugal among the Japanese.”
In this regard, AICEP plans to organize a series of economic seminars aligned with the thematic weeks of Expo 2025 in Tokyo, focusing on mobility, life sciences, and the blue economy.
Seminars will take place on May 22 for mobility, July 1 for life sciences, August 8 for defense, and September 24 for the blue economy.
The blue economy encompasses various sectors such as agriculture, energy, telecommunications, and fishing, presenting Portugal with opportunities to leverage Japan’s investment capabilities.
AICEP, along with Startup Portugal, will bring Portuguese startups and scaleups to Japan, with registration open until April 13.
Arroja noted that the automotive industry also sees significant Japanese investments in Portugal.
When questioned about potential Japanese investments in Portugal, AICEP’s president stated: “We only announce investments when they are finalized.”
Currently, “Portugal is engaging with investments from various countries with Japan being a prominent focus, where AICEP maintains an office in Tokyo.”
Regarding Portugal’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, he praised the aesthetic of the pavilion constructed with suspended ropes, highlighting its focus on recycling themes.
The universal expo theme emphasizes Portugal’s commitment to biodiversity, environmental protection, and the harmonious blend of nature and economic development opportunities.
“As head of AICEP, the goal is to project a dignified, modern, and strong image of Portugal,” he affirmed.
In response to a question about U.S. tariffs, Ricardo Arroja declined to comment but mentioned that “Portugal aims to diversify its markets,” and for Japan, there is significant growth potential.
He reiterated, “Portugal’s strategy involves diversifying its export markets, especially towards Asia, which currently projects higher growth rates than the Western world.”
