On Saturday, the prime minister, along with President Juan Manuel Santos and various ministers of his administration, met with over 60 Portuguese business leaders in Bogota to discuss new investments in Colombia.
The prime minister’s journey came amid grave short and medium-term prospects for both Portugal and Europe. Analysts have shown concerns that Portugal might struggle to meet its deficit goal of 3% of GDP by 2013 that was set under the terms of the European Union and International Monetary Fund bailout.
Colombia, the prime minister stated, presented an attractive foreign investment opportunity for a nation looking to set its monetary house back in order.
Coehlo recognized the trade deficit between the two countries, but affirmed that there existed tools to correct the issue and saw Portugal’s low levels of investment and trade as proof of future growth opportunities. Economic and commerical relations between Portugal and Colombia are “manifestly insufficient if we detect the potential effects of a bilateral alliance,” claimed the prime minister.