Business Mission to Portugal

The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), in cooperation with the Office of the President of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Lisbon, organized a business mission to Portugal from 25-27 November 2025. The delegation accompanied the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, during his official visit to the Portuguese Republic.

The Slovak business delegation consisted of 16 entities operating across a wide range of economic sectors, from information and communication technologies, smart cities, and biotechnology, to green solutions, the electrical engineering industry, energy, and other fields.

The key element of the program for participating companies was the Slovak–Portuguese Business Forum titled Green & Smart Futures, officially opened by the President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini and the President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. In their remarks, they emphasized the importance of this opportunity to build new partnerships and expand trade, with a shared commitment to the future, innovation, education, and the development of human capital.

Two important documents were signed during the event:

• A Memorandum of Understanding between EXIMBANKA SR and Banco Português de Fomento, establishing a framework for enhanced financial and export cooperation, knowledge exchange, and joint project development.

• A Cooperation Agreement between the Slovak company Nexineo and the Portuguese company Beltrão Coelho.

Throughout the forum, dozens of bilateral business meetings took place between Slovak companies and 40 Portuguese entities. These meetings represent a concrete step toward deepening trade relations, identifying common interests, and forming new partnerships.

The program also included presentations by SARIO and AICEP, providing participants with insights into the business and investment environments of both countries, current trends, and key economic policy priorities. The Slovak business and investment landscape was presented by SARIO’s Executive Director, Robert Šimončič.

In cooperation with the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Lisbon, a specialized accompanying program was prepared, featuring visits to AIHUB, a digital innovation center, Unicorn Factory, an incubator and technology hub, and Tagus Park, one of Portugal’s leading innovation and technology hubs.

During these visits, Slovak entrepreneurs had the opportunity to explore the Portuguese innovation ecosystem, engage with local experts, and examine opportunities for cooperation in research, technology, and green solutions.

At Tagus Park, a networking event was held with representatives of Portuguese technology companies, where the Director of SARIO’s Foreign Trade Department, Daniel Ondruš, presented Slovakia’s business environment and current investment opportunities.

Significance of the Mission for Slovak Companies

The business mission provided Slovak companies with a platform not only to showcase their solutions and products, but also to establish new contacts, gain access to Portugal’s dynamic technology sector, and engage in substantive discussions about future cooperation. SARIO actively supported the preparation of the program, partner identification, organization of B2B meetings, and accompanying visits, thereby creating favorable conditions for the practical development of new business opportunities.