GULF TODAY

Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

Coimbra Region:  From the sea to the mountains, the Inter municipality Community (CIM) of Coimbra Region presented its diversity to companies and stakeholders from the Middle East at Expo Dubai 2020 at the Pavilion of Portugal, aiming to attract investment to the Portuguese territory. The event was organised by Portuguese Association of Tourism for the Middle East.

The event was dedicated to business and investment, as well as sustainable food, with the presentation of the European project “Food Corridors” to representatives of the partner countries: Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary and Romania.

In the institutional committee of the Coimbra Region, composed by the President of the municipalities, have been also intervening entrepreneurs of these municipalities, to familiarise themselves to the Eastern market and conquer new territories outside Europe.

Expo Dubai is an excellent “showcase” to attract partnerships and investors and that is the main goal of this delegation: to give visibility to the existing potential of the Coimbra Region and attract investment, opening the doors of this promising market to SMEs in this area.

“We wanted to show the strength and diversity of our territory and the excellence and competitiveness of our SMEs. We had many investment opportunities which were showcased during the day, in various strategic sectors such as real estate, textiles, biotechnology, health, design, construction, renewable energy, among others,” highlights Emílio Torrão, President of the municipalities.

The presence of Coimbra Region in this world exhibition will draw the attention of the Middle East to the reality of the Region, creating a new opportunity for communication and promotion of the destination on a major world stage. Coimbra remains one of the few regions in Portugal which still allows Golden Visa to foreign investors.

Meanwhile, there are hundreds of Portuguese companies operating in the UAE in the industry, services, trade, infrastructure, etc. Portugal also attracts UAE and international investors, not only because of its strategic location between Latin America, Africa and Europe, but also for having a workforce The international companies have recently contributed to supporting the vital sectors of the Portuguese economy, such as transport, industry, hospitality, banking and technology, with companies such as Google, BMW, Volkswagen and BNP Paribas opening branches in different regions Portugal.

Portugal, which received 20 million tourists, is looking forward to welcoming more tourists from the UAE and the Gulf countries.

Meanwhile, the timing is a big blessing on Dubai to have a grand for hosting the mega event. The Expo 2020 is going to be a grand event. The whole world will have now a reason to visit Dubai. The world is now hailing the vision and courage demonstrated by the leadership of Dubai and the UAE at this special time facing all the challenges and turning the challenges as blessings. About 3 to 5 percent of people visiting Expo 2020 is expected revisiting Dubai or planning to make Dubai their residence post the Expo.

In 1851 the Crystal Palace was the centrepiece of London’s Great Exhibition – the first World Expo. It celebrated the man-made industrial wonders of a rapidly changing world. Architecture, contents and a theme, ‘Industry of All Nations’, were combined to create a big idea of nations meeting nations in shared technological and commercial progress. In more recent years, participants in World Expos, including governments, international organisations and companies, have gathered to find solutions to universal challenges and to promote their achievements, products, ideas, innovations, their national brand, and their nations as destinations for tourism, trade and investment.