Within the framework of our international and cross-continental expertise we were delighted to promote the First Edition of the
AGRITEC ID-EMRC International Business Forum, which was held in Lisbon. The forum, held in collaboration with the Portuguese Industrial Association - International Fair of Lisbon (AIP-FIL), welcomed approximately 200 delegates from around the world and served as a platform to debate the current agricultural trends, bringing together representatives from the private and public sector from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the USA.
::FOCUS ON AFRICAN PORTUGUESE COUNTRIES::
The theme of the forum was BOOSTING AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION IN AFRICA and special attention was paid to the African Portuguese Speaking Countries, and countries interested in doing business in Angola. The AGRITEC ID - EMRC International Business Forum promoted the creation of business partnerships and encouraged the designing of new agricultural projects. The forum included Plenary Sessions; Workshops; One-on-One Business Meetings (using a special software that matches the interests and needs expressed by participants) and Informal Networking Events.
Why Portugal?
Portugal is an exciting country, located on the West Coast of Europe. It is a geographically strategic location, ideal for those looking to supply the European market or expand their businesses to other parts of the world. The Portuguese market is far larger than it may initially appear: it is made up of 10.6 million consumers on the mainland and in the Madeira and Azores islands, but it is also a gateway to a market of about 250 million people from other Portuguese speaking countries. Furthermore, in the Diaspora there are 4 million Portuguese citizens and their descendents mainly living in France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the US, Canada, Venezuela and Brazil.
Portuguese is the 5th most widely spoken language in the world shared by the CPLP (Portuguese Speaking Countries Community) countries including Brazil (one of the BRIC countries), Angola (one of the fastest growing economies and the special guest of this Business Forum), Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Principe, Guinea-Bissau and East Timor. Portugal is an excellent entry point, or initial test-market, for a foreign firm looking to get into the European Union.