India and Portugal agree to strengthen bilateral relations, review ongoing engagements in trade and investment

India and Portugal expressed their desire for collaboration in areas like IT, startups and innovation, renewable energy, green hydrogen, migration and mobility of youth, skilled workers, and professionals.

This development took place during delegation level talks between External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and the visiting Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal Paulo Rangel in New Delhi on Friday. The Portuguese Foreign Minister is on a four-day visit to India from December 12 to 15.

The two ministers also reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral ties including trade and investment, defence, science and technology, tourism, culture, and people to people ties.

EAM Dr Jaishankar and Portuguese FM Rangel also exchanged views on global and regional developments of mutual interest.

They agreed to continue the existing close cooperation in regional and multilateral fora including at the United Nations. EAM Dr Jaishankar thanked FM Rangel for Portugal’s continued support to India’s Permanent membership in the UN Security Council and for strengthening India-EU ties.

Next year India and Portugal will celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. In this regard, both Ministers agreed to commemorate this milestone in a befitting manner.

During the visit, FM Rangel also met with Minister of Commerce and Industry i Piyush Goyal. He will also visit Goa where he is expected to meet with the Governor and the Chief Minister of the state.

The bilateral ties between India and Portugal got a renewed push and momentum after the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Portugal Luis Montenegro in November 2024, during the G20 Summit in Rio.

The visit of Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal is expected to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries and give impetus to the ongoing transformation of this historical relationship to a forward-looking contemporary partnership.