ASEAN COMMITTEE LISBON PORTUGAL (ACLP) MEETS WITH PORTUGAL’S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION

The ASEAN Committee Lisbon Portugal (ACLP) comprised of its Chairman, Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier of the Philippines, Ambassador Mulya Wirana of Indonesia and Ambassador Krairawee Sirikul of Thailand met with Secretary of State for Internationalization Dr. Jorge Costa Oliveira of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) on 16 June 2016.

The meeting with Secretary of State Oliveira provided an opportunity for the ACLP to gain insights from the Secretary of State on the role and work of this new position created by the government under Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa. The Secretary of State for Internationalization plays a leading role in Portugal’s economic diplomacy and has oversight and supervision over AICEP Portugal Global, Portugal’s trade and investment promotion agency.

The ASEAN Committee Lisbon Portugal (ACLP) during a meeting with Secretary of State for Internationalization Dr. Jorge Costa Oliveira of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting also resulted in free flowing and open discussions on the value and benefits of more dynamic and broader engagement and cooperation between the ASEAN Community and Portugal, particularly in the areas of trade and investment. Both sides agreed that there was a continuing need to raise awareness of each other not only with respective citizens, but also with government agencies, and more importantly, the business communities of both sides.

Secretary of State Oliveira spent many years of his life living in the East Asian region and showed that he was familiar with the countries in the area and the opportunities the markets on that region presents for Portuguese businesses. Secretary of State Oliveira welcomed the initiative of the three ASEAN Embassies in Lisbon to develop stronger ASEAN-Portuguese relations under the formal framework of the ACLP and assured the ACLP of the support and cooperation of his office on this matter noting that this is an endeavour of mutual benefit for all parties concerned. END.