The Portuguese Trade Commission (PTC) is pushing ahead with plans to boost the presence of Portuguese firms in the UAE and aims to double the country’s trade volumes within the region in the next five years, according to a top executive at the PTC.

Carlos Carvalho Costa, director PTC Dubai, comments: “We are looking forward to increasing the role of Portuguese companies in the development of this region which would be beneficial to both parties. We realise that the Portuguese trading community is not well represented in the region and the volume of trade is minimal. However, there is immense potential for increasing it manifold.
 “While, we have to bear in mind that this is a relatively new market for Portugal and Portuguese companies have just started penetrating here, given political involvement and through hard work, we can double the current trade volume throughout the region to $25 million.”
To enable Portuguese companies to penetrate the market and find a suitable trading partner, the PTC works in close coordination with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.
“Thanks to the cooperation with chamber authorities in Dubai and the Portuguese trade associations in Portugal, the PTC has been receiving a lot of trade enquiries, both from the UAE and Portugal,” Costa points out. “Already, trade between the two countries has increased by 21 per cent over last year and the trade balance is in favour of Portugal. In addition, the PTC is supporting the visits of delegates from a number of Portuguese companies which are planning to introduce products that have a good potential market in the UAE.”
He continues: “Currently, we are concentrating on interior design products and accessories, clothing, footware, building materials and steel industries, and advising Portuguese firms about the investment opportunities available in the UAE.”
The PTC is presently focusing on the Portuguese construction and building material sector and efforts are being made to bring in representatives of these sectors to Dubai and familiarise them with the booming construction market of the emirates
“Portuguese companies have vast experience in building sports facilities like the one constructed for UEFA Euro 2004, the European football championship tournament, held in Portugal last June. In addition, we believe we can enter the construction and building material sectors – especially steel and cement – in an effective way.”
Already, building materials from Portugal have been making inroads into the Middle Eastern markets. Portuguese marble has established a niche in the Saudi market, with about 60 per cent of Portugal’s marble exports now destined for that market.
“Ceramic tiles, which are a huge industry in Portugal, could similarly find a solid base in Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE because of their quality and artistic beauty,”
Further explaining PTC’s strategy, Costa says: “We are trying to consolidate our trade enhancement efforts under the political umbrella, as without political backing and good bilateral relations, trade cannot flourish in the region.
“We are responsible for establishing a liaison between trade associations and interested individual traders. Our role is to create awareness among the trade and industrial associations and individual traders. We present them with a market analysis and line up prospective buyers, minimising the efforts they need to exert to find new business avenues.
“PTC is basically playing the role of an “economic diplomat” in the region and developing the networking required for this purpose.  It is responsible for promoting the image of both the Middle East – as a safe place for investment - and Portugal  – as the producer of quality goods and services.”
So far, the PTC’s efforts have yielded good response, especially with Portuguese companies expressing interest in participating in trade exhibitions. However, PTC’s ambitions run further and it is now working on a strategy of bringing in the companies that wish to set up their own base in the Middle East, especially in the UAE.
“We are, therefore, inviting several interested people from Portugal. Trade exhibitions, like the Big 5 show, provide an opportunity to enhance the interaction between the trading communities of both countries. These exhibitions help in building trade ties and clinching actual deals on the spot,” he points out.
The PTC’s stand at the Big 5 show will include displays put up by a total of 18 companies from various sectors that include:
Marble, granite, natural stone:

• C Mata Export (www.cmataexport.com)
• Dani Mármores (www.danimarmores)
• Grupo Galrao (www.galrao.com)
• Marfilpe (www.marfilpe.pt)
• MVC – Marmores De Alcobaça (www.mvc.pt)
• Pastones  (www.pjsimoes.com)
• Transgranitos  (www.transgranitos.pt)

Ceramic wall and floor tiles:

• Aleluia (www.aleluia.pt)
• Ceralfa (www.ceralfa.pt)
• Dominó (www.domino.pt)
• Gresco (www.gresco.pt)
• Poceram (www.poceram.pt)

Locks for wooden and aluminum doors, hinges, door handles and knobs:

• Manufacturas Santos (www.santos-lda.pt)

Bathroom accessories:

• Pombo (www.pombo.pt

Stainless steel sanitary ware and accessories, water fountain, hand dryer and handrails:

• Senda (www.senda-lda.pt)

Sanitary fittings, mainly faucets and bathroom accessories:

• Metalurgica Luso Alema (www.zenite.pt)

Steel wires for all types of construction application:

• Fapricela (www.fapricela.pt)

Air handling unit for air temperature, humidity and filtration:

• Evac(www.evac.pt)

PTC also put up a pavilion at the Index exhibition with a total of 13 Portuguese companies represented at the show.
Over the next year, PTC will be inviting specialist interior design and building material companies in coordination with Portuguese associations.
“Professional interior designers will also be coming to Dubai over the course of next year to analyse the market and find right opportunities for interior design firms,” he comments.
Besides networking, the PTC also provides access to its database of Portuguese traders and acts as an information resource centre.
PTC operates both from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“However, our main focus is currently on Dubai where we intend to tap the phenomenal opportunities presented by the unprecedented growth of this emirate,” he concludes.