Portugal’s Advisory Board in Denmark discusses new opportunities to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation

On 18 June 2026, the Advisory Board of Portugal in Denmark held its latest meeting in Copenhagen. The session was organised by AICEP – Portugal Trade & Investment Agency, in collaboration with the Embassy of Portugal in Denmark, bringing together representatives from business, academia, public institutions and the Portuguese community to discuss opportunities for strengthening economic relations between Portugal and Denmark.

The meeting was opened by H.E. Ambassador José Pedro Marinho da Costa, who highlighted the Advisory Board’s role as a strategic platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors. In his opening remarks, he emphasised the importance of economic diplomacy in supporting the internationalisation of Portuguese companies, strengthening bilateral cooperation and ensuring that Portugal remains well positioned within the Danish market.

The keynote address, “Danish Business Environment and Opportunities,” was delivered by Christina Kjær, Research Director at Erhvervslivets Tænketank. Her presentation explored the evolving Danish business landscape and Europe’s position in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Key topics included European competitiveness, strategic autonomy, resilient value chains, investment in innovation, and the growing importance of sectors such as energy, sustainability, critical infrastructure, defence and digital transformation. The presentation also highlighted the importance of stronger European cooperation and long-term strategic investment to support sustainable economic growth.

Following an interactive Q&A session, Maria João Veiga Gomes, Director of AICEP Trade & Invest Denmark and Economic and Commercial Counsellor, presented the Delegation’s 2026–2027 Action Plan.

The presentation reviewed AICEP Denmark’s recent achievements in supporting Portuguese companies while outlining its strategic priorities for the coming years. These include a stronger focus on high-impact initiatives, qualified networking and strategic partnerships, with particular attention given to sectors such as renewable energy, sustainability, healthcare, engineering, agrifood, wine, design and advanced technologies.

The meeting also brought together representatives from a wide range of organisations, including Novo Nordisk, Visit Portugal, the University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Business School, PwC Denmark, the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, as well as Portuguese and Danish companies, entrepreneurs and representatives of the Portuguese community in Denmark. Their participation reflected the diversity of expertise and perspectives that contribute to strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

The programme concluded with a networking reception accompanied by Portuguese Port wine, providing participants with the opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen professional connections and explore future collaboration.

The discussions reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s role as an important instrument for Portugal’s economic diplomacy, fostering dialogue, knowledge sharing and strategic cooperation. They also reinforced the importance of building partnerships, expanding professional networks and identifying new business and investment opportunities to further strengthen Portugal–Denmark economic relations.

As a member of the Advisory Board of Portugal in Denmark, SPOT Nordic remains committed to contributing to this dialogue by strengthening connections between the Portuguese and Nordic research, innovation, business and entrepreneurship ecosystems, supporting initiatives that create long-term value for both countries.