OREANDA-NEWS. A meeting of Russian and Portuguese businessmen has taken place on the premises of the CCI of Russia at 6, Ilyinka Street. The event was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia, the Portuguese Embassy in Moscow and the Portuguese Business Development Agency (AICEP).

CCI of Russia President Sergey Katyrin made the opening remarks at the meeting. Russia and Portugal have long-standing relations of partnership, he said in his introductory speech. While greeting the audience, Sergey Katyrin said that the Portuguese delegation was the largest and most representative of all that had visited Russia in the recent years; many Russian businessmen were taking part in the meeting, which demonstrated the mutual interest in the broadening and strengthening of the economic partnership. Russian businessmen are enthusiastic about this cooperation. Positive trends have emerged in the Portuguese economy after the hard years of crisis and they are visible against the backdrop of the actual economic stagnation the European Union has been witnessing this year. Trade between Portugal and Russia has been growing for the past three years following the crisis-triggered decline.

Contemporary Portugal is an important political partner of Russia in Europe; the sides are developing their relations on the basis of a mutual account of interests. Speaking of the bilateral economic relations, Sergey Katyrin pointed out the importance of investment cooperation, which was a colossal field for interaction between Russian and Portuguese businesses. On the whole, the trade and economic cooperation potential is far from being spent. It is of paramount importance to have a constant exchange of business information. Chambers of commerce and industry of both countries and business associations can make a serious input in that process. This meeting will doubtlessly assist in the establishment of new contacts, promote mutual understanding and mutually advantageous cooperation between Russian and Portuguese businessmen, Sergey Katyrin concluded.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Meshkov was the next speaker. He said the bilateral relations were steady and stable. Portugal supports Russia at its negotiations on the visa-free travel regime with the European Union. We also appreciate the support rendered by Portugal to the Russian accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the deputy minister stressed. The Russian and Portuguese cochairmen of the Intergovernmental Commission signed an agreement on the bolstering of partnership, which manifests the wish of both countries to continue their advancement along the cooperation path.

Acting Russian Deputy Chairman of the Russian-Portuguese Intergovernmental Commission, Deputy Director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry's Department of Europe and America Alexander Stadkin developed the subject. He spoke about the current condition and prospects of trade and economic relations between Russia and Portugal.

The audience listened with great attention to the speech of Portuguese Deputy Prime Minister Paolo Portas, who presented the trade and investment potential of the Republic of Portugal to the Russian participants. In his opinion, the meeting opened a new page in the bilateral economic cooperation. Portugal is recovering from the crisis and restoring its financial stability. Cooperation may be developed in the energy sector, agriculture, tourism, car building, high technologies and other spheres. Portugal is expecting new Russian commodities to appear on its market and promoting investments, and Portuguese companies are already doing business on the Russian market and their number will certainly continue to grow.

A number of Russian and Portuguese companies signed cooperation agreements on the sidelines of the business meeting.

The sides discussed cooperation options in tourism, supplies of food and agricultural products, the agrarian sector as a whole and other sectors.

The audience listened to the speeches of Portuguese Minister of Economy Antonio Pires de Lima, AICEP President Pedro Reis, and Trade Counselor of the Russian Embassy in Portugal Igor Zolkin.

Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism Adolfo Mesquita Nunes, member of the Russian Union of Travel Industry Presidium, member of the CCI of Russia Committee for Tourism, Recreation and Hospitality Industry Tatiana Vand and Portuguese Secretary of State for Food and Agri-Food Research Nuno Vieira e Brito presented opportunities and cooperation prospects in a number of economic sectors.

Russian and Portuguese businessmen exchanged opinions about issues of mutual interest.