A new trade diplomat for Portugal

Portuguese Economic Diplomacy – setting up a new generation of international trade promoters

The globalization of international relations and Portuguese membership to European Union had place new challenges for the Portuguese diplomatic channels. Economic diplomacy each day is more relevant than the traditional diplomacy of power politics. Important issues like: trade agreements between European union and USA, tariffs agreements between European Union and Mercosur and also an in- depth knowledge of Multilateral regimes such as: WTO, UNCTAD and UNIDO, UNDP are important reasons to identify and train a new type of diplomat – the trade diplomat. This new diplomat with a prior training on international economic and commercial relations and with a global vision of international relations have currently an important mission:

· Defend and promote the interest of Portuguese companies
· Defend and promote our key-economic sectors
· Must contribute and help the internationalization of Portuguese companies
· Must help to promote our exports
· Must contribute to attract FDI and identify potential investors abroad

Therefore, the new set up of Portuguese Investment Agency (API ) and the reorganization of ICEP – Portuguese foreign trade office and the autonomy granted to the authority responsible for the tourism external promotion are important and necessary steps to achieve a new economic diplomacy model for a modern and global Portugal.

Portugal if wants to be a State entity with international exposure and international influence needs a economic diplomacy model proactive focus on the rapid changes of the world economic system.

This new economic diplomat must have a in- depth knowledge of key emerging markets with potential for the penetration of our products and companies.

This new commercial diplomats should study the better market access and conditions if our companies want to take correct decisions when they go to formulate internationalization strategies with support of Government export programmes.

This new generation of commercial diplomats with international experience and with a mentality open to a globalized Portugal must also to have a new vision of the international relations system and of the new priorities of our economic foreign policy.


If we want that this will happen Portuguese foreign affairs office and Economics affairs Ministry should set up a diplomatic academy where they could organize short and long term training programmes and seminars about the following area studies:

· International Negotiation
· Commercial Diplomacy
· Internationalization of local economies and companies
· Export promotion strategies
· International Trade
· National Marketing strategies and attraction of investment
· International Investment
· Emerging Markets
· Foreign Languages
· International assessment of clusters/countries
· International Economic Law
· International Trade Law

I recommend also a better connection between official foreign trade authorities, chambers of commerce and business associations as the most suitable strategy to promote globally the brand « Portugal » if we want to increase our brand image.

These new economic diplomacy model it is just possible to implement with a national strategy in a long-term perspective.

The main goal is to contribute for the improvement of the international relations of Portugal, to increase the external competitiveness of our companies, to increase our international prestige
and to assure add value to the Portugal Brand name in a global market where the countries competitiveness is rated by intangible factors like « brand state » , Human Resources skills and national based companies with internationalization will and capacity to look beyond national borders.

Alfredo Motty
23/07/2003
International Trade Consultant
Source: Economic Diplomacy Portal
Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies - Malta