Portugal's ambassador to Pakistan, Paulo Domingues, has called for a major expansion of economic relations between the two countries, urging businesses to move beyond friendly diplomatic ties and pursue trade, investment, and joint ventures. Addressing a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Domingues said bilateral trade remains well below its potential despite friendly relations and complementary economic strengths.
"My message today is very simple: Portugal and Pakistan have much more to offer each other. We must work together to turn our friendly relations into real business opportunities.
Our political and economic relations are good and growing steadily, but the trade figures remain relatively low compared with the enormous potential that exists between our two countries. There is significant untapped potential that we must identify and develop through sustained efforts," he said.
The ambassador noted that Portuguese businesses have yet to fully explore the Pakistani market, partly due to a lack of awareness regarding the opportunities it offers. Pakistani businesses, meanwhile, are increasingly exploring Portugal, with missions visiting the country to assess commercial prospects in various sectors.
He expressed confidence that bilateral trade will grow as these initiatives gain momentum. "The challenge is to bring our business communities together and encourage more Portuguese entrepreneurs and companies to visit Pakistan.
Portugal and Pakistan may be geographically far apart, but geography should never limit our ambitions. We have a strong foundation for cooperation, and what we need now is greater engagement between our companies," he said.
Domingues identified several promising areas for cooperation, including trade, industry, renewable energy, technology, agriculture, fruit cultivation, and innovation. He stated that the Portuguese Embassy could help companies in both countries identify buyers, suppliers, distributors, and reliable long-term commercial partners.
Highlighting Portugal's experience in clean energy, he said about 70 percent of the country's electricity generation comes from renewable sources, creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing, technology cooperation, and investment partnerships with Pakistan. The ambassador also announced that Portugal's Minister for Foreign Affairs would visit Pakistan on November 22 and 23, during which a business forum would be held in Islamabad.
The forum will bring together representatives of the two countries' foreign ministries, trade and investment agencies, and Portuguese companies to explore opportunities for trade, investment, and joint projects. He urged the KCCI to participate actively in the initiative and mobilize Pakistani business leaders to engage with the visiting delegation.
Welcoming the ambassador, KCCI President Talat Mahmood called for concerted efforts to expand trade, urging the embassy to improve market access and encourage diversification beyond textiles. Both nations remain optimistic that these high-level engagements will serve as a catalyst for a new era of economic partnership, moving beyond traditional trade patterns toward a more integrated and technology-driven commercial relationship.