Portugal finalizes economic cooperation plan with Mexico by year’s end

The Prime Minister said this Sunday that by the end of the year the Portuguese government will conclude an economic cooperation plan with Mexico in which the port sector and the energy sector will be given priority.

Antonio Costa spoke to reporters after a meeting in Santiago de Chile with Mexican President Lopez Obrador, to whom he presented the book “Journey to Portugal” by Jose Saramago.

“I took advantage of my presence in Chile to meet with Portuguese companies present in this market and for bilateral meetings, namely with the President of Mexico, a country with which we intend to expand cooperation and economic relations. Mexico is one of the largest economies,” he said, noting that the country “is both Atlantic and Pacific-facing.”

According to the Portuguese executive, Mexico has “some common interests with Portugal, especially in the ports and energy sectors.”

“At the meeting, we identified several areas in which we can work together for the benefit of both countries,” he said, noting that Foreign Minister Joao Gomes Craviño will travel to Mexico this month.

“We are working to ensure that by the end of the year we will have something important to do together. This is a country where many Portuguese companies operate, especially in the construction sector,” the Prime Minister specified, before emphasizing that he is still Mota Engil, which recently completed the construction of a railway section considered one of the largest in the world.

“Mexico is a country with which we want to strengthen relations,” he emphasized, before also highlighting the meeting he had afterwards with national companies present in the Chilean market.

As for Chile, António Costa said Portuguese investment has increased and economic relations are intensifying.

“Through the various meetings I had with President Gabriel Boric, I sensed in him a great desire to strengthen ties with Portugal. He really values ​​Portuguese companies operating in Chile and I hope this will continue to develop.” “Chile has the largest reserves of lithium, a fundamental resource for the energy transition,” he emphasized.

This evening the Prime Minister is one of the guests at a dinner hosted by President Gabriel Boric, which will bring together all the heads of state and government who will take part in ceremonies on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of the coup in Chile.

Also on Monday, but in the afternoon, after the celebrations and before returning to Lisbon, Antonio Costa meets with the President of Chile.