Manuel Castro Almeida of Economy and Territorial Cohesion of Portugal, arrived in Venezuela on November 1, 2026. He traveled with a delegation of over 30 companies.
The group seeks to examine investment opportunities in the country. Venezuela’s Oliver Blanco confirmed the arrival.
Blanco announced the visit via social media. He stated that the delegation’s efforts align with the diplomatic agenda under the leadership of Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote economic partnerships. Bajo el liderazgo de la Pdta.
Focus on Economic Collaboration and La Guaira Reconstruction
The Portuguese delegation’s agenda includes a forum on November 3 at the Centro Portugués in Macaracuay, Caracas. This event aims to foster business ties between Portuguese and Venezuelan enterprises.
The event, described as a “key moment” in the visit, will focus on identifying investment opportunities to support Venezuela’s economic recovery. This includes the reconstruction of the La Guaira state, which was heavily damaged by earthquakes in June 2026.
Dimos la bienvenida a Venezuela 🇻🇪 al ministro portugués Manuel Castro Almeida🇵🇹, a quien acompaña una delegación de más de 30 empresas interesadas en invertir en Venezuela. Bajo el liderazgo de la Pdta. E @delcyrodriguezv la amistad entre nuestros países se fortalece con una… pic.twitter.com/mAZKvPUVAC
Venezuelan officials highlighted that the companies involved represent diverse fields.
These include energy, construction, banking, technology, food, health, engineering, tourism, and telecommunications. Las empresas portuguesas que participaron pertenecen al sector de energía, construcción, banca, tecnología, alimentación, salud, ingeniería, turismo y telecomunicaciones, entre otros, noted a statement from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.
Diplomats Meet to Shape Bilateral Relations
The visit follows a series of diplomatic engagements between the two nations. These include a September 2026 meeting between Félix Plasencia and his Portuguese counterpart, Paulo Rangel, at the United Nations.
A meeting on September 25 between Francisco Garcés and Jorge Santos of Ribeira Brava explored potential collaborations in construction, technology, and academic training.
The Portuguese delegation’s trip also includes meetings with representatives of the Portuguese and lusodescent communities in Venezuela, as well as institutional talks to deepen bilateral ties. Emídio Sousa, Portugal’s State Secretary for Communities, will remain in Caracas until November 5 to continue these engagements.
No specific trade agreements were announced during the initial stages of the delegation’s stay. “Although the arrival of the delegation represents a new business approach between Caracas and Lisbon, so far, the economic sectors that are of interest to the Portuguese companies have not been specified, nor have specific commercial agreements been announced,” reported Diario Versión Final.
Portuguese Officials Strengthen Ties with Venezuela
The Portuguese delegation includes Ana Casaca, president of Portugal’s Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP). It also includes officials from the Ministry of Economy and the State Secretary for Communities.
The mission, outlined in advance by AlbertoNews, is part of a strategy to strengthen historical and cultural ties between Portugal and Venezuela.
Blanco’s statements emphasized the profound historical, human, and cultural links between the two nations. He framed the visit as a continuation of diplomatic efforts initiated earlier in 2026.
The minister’s social media posts, shared widely in Venezuelan media, highlighted the significance of the delegation’s arrival as a step toward generating benefits for the people
through increased cooperation.