Lisbon, March 17, 2026 – The prospects for expanding Kazakhstan–Portugal trade, economic, and investment cooperation in light of new geopolitical and geo-economic challenges and opportunities were discussed during a meeting between the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Portugal, Jean Galiev, and the leadership of the Business Association of the Minho Region (Associação Empresarial do Minho, AEMinho) – President Ramiro Brito, Vice-President Graciete Lima, and Director General Margarida Rossi.

The Kazakh diplomat briefed his counterparts on the key provisions of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution, emphasizing changes aimed at improving the investment climate and conditions for foreign companies. The Ambassador also highlighted the most promising sectors for Kazakhstan–Portugal cooperation, including information technology and artificial intelligence development, agriculture, transport and logistics (including the potential of the Middle Corridor), light industry, construction materials production, tourism, and others.

Welcoming the modernization processes initiated by the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the AEMinho leadership expressed their readiness to establish partnerships in the aforementioned sectors.

At the conclusion of the meeting, an agreement was reached to hold a series of joint events aimed at bringing the business communities of the two countries closer together and identifying mutually beneficial projects.

AEMinho represents the interests of entrepreneurs from the industrially developed Minho region (northern Portugal), contributing to the country’s economic, social, and cultural development, as well as enhancing the competitiveness of Portuguese companies, including through their expansion into international markets. The association includes more than 140 companies, with a combined turnover exceeding €45 billion, which accounts for about 8% of Portugal’s GDP. In value terms, the exports of AEMinho member companies exceed €10 billion.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-lisbon/press/news/details/1184557?lang=kk