Lisbon was the scene of a meeting that could mark the future of economic relations between Portugal and Saudi Arabia.

On September 24, 2025, the Taguspark Congress Center hosted the 2nd edition of the Portuguese Saudi Private Sector Forum, an event that brought together close to a hundred Portuguese companies and was attended by senior representatives of both countries.

Organized by the Business Confederation of Portugal (CIP), the Arab-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Saudi Arabia, the forum was more than just a business conference. It was a clear demonstration of mutual trust and the will to turn opportunities into concrete projects.

At the opening, Alwalid Albaltan, President of the Saudi Portuguese Business Council, praised Portuguese hospitality and highlighted the quality of national companies, underlining the potential for cooperation in strategic sectors. This was followed by Abílio Silva, President of the Portuguese Saudi Business Council, who has played a central role in this rapprochement with the Kingdom. The leader recalled the effort of several years to open doors to Portuguese companies in Saudi Arabia, the result of frequent travel and persistent work in direct contact with local entrepreneurs.

One of the most awaited moments was the presentation of Vision 2030, the ambitious Saudi plan to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil. Maryama Abdullah Al Barrak, senior official at the Ministry of Investment, explained in detail the investor support process, from registration to monitoring of operations. Abdulmohsen AlSalem, representative of Monsha'at (General Authority for SMEs), highlighted the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises in the growth of the Kingdom, while Khalid Alshehri, from the Ministry of Investment (MISA), highlighted the role of entrepreneurship in promoting innovation and competitiveness.

Rozan Naji, from the Ministry of Economy and Planning, and Khalid Albugmi, from the Saudi Foreign Trade Authority, also reinforced the importance of Portugal as a strategic partner. Both argued that our country can play a relevant role as a gateway to other international markets, taking advantage of its geographical position and the international credibility, it has gained.

During the meeting, several Portuguese companies presented their projects, some already active in Saudi Arabia and others in the installation phase. There was also room for the signing of memorandums of understanding and joint ventures, such as the agreements signed between Bravantic Evolving Technology and the Saudi companies Khalab Investment and Future Land, as well as between NBKS Digital Services and Asasat Development and Real Estate Development Co. These commitments show that bilateral cooperation is already beginning to translate into concrete results.

The testimony of companies that have been in the Saudi market for the longest time served as an inspiration. Paulo Pimenta, CEO of GEG Engineering Structures for Life, reported how his company has grown in the Kingdom since 2014 and highlighted the country's relevance in consolidating its activity. His story was received as a practical example that Saudi opportunities are not only theoretical, but can be transformed into successful trajectories.

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The President of CIP, Armindo Monteiro, left a clear message to Portuguese companies: to see Saudi Arabia as a serious opportunity for internationalization. He recalled that many other countries compete for space in this market, but that Portugal has unique conditions to differentiate itself, either by the quality of its services and products, or by the ability to create solid relationships of trust.

The forum ended with a networking session that brought together businessmen from both countries and with media interviews, including one by CNN, which helped to give visibility to the initiative and its main conclusions. The general atmosphere was optimistic, with the feeling that this edition opened doors to a new cycle of economic cooperation.

More than signed agreements or protocol speeches, the meeting showed that Portugal and Saudi Arabia share a common will: to build a future of joint growth. The confidence shown by business leaders, the willingness of the Saudi authorities to support foreign investors and the enthusiasm of the Portuguese companies that were present show that the relationship between the two countries is entering a new phase.

The final balance was consensual: this forum was confirmed as an essential platform to bring entrepreneurs together, create business opportunities and strengthen cultural and institutional ties. Friendship and trust, values often absent in purely commercial relationships, were present and gave strength to the event. Lisbon was, for one day, the stage for a meeting that could mark the start of a new stage in the relationship between Portugal and Saudi Arabia, transforming intentions into realities and paving the way for a future of lasting cooperation.

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes