Cascais, Portugal, July 25, 2025 (Lusa) - The chief executive of Rangel Logistics Solutions stated on Friday that the government should encourage the internationalisation of companies that wish to start operating abroad, and this can extend beyond providing support for exports.
“The challenge I leave to the Portuguese government is to look more at the internationalisation of Portuguese companies, because the existing support focuses on exporting goods, and it should also create ways to support companies that want to internationalise in Africa, that is, go there and open a company or factory,” said Nuno Rangel.
Speaking on the panel on ‘Trade and Investment: Accelerating Business Growth in Africa’ at the EurAfrican Forum, which is taking place today and Saturday in Cascais, the company leader said: “Going there and opening a company or a factory requires a long-term vision for Africa,” and the government should think about how it can help to unblock this initiative by companies, because until now there has only been support for exports, but what is needed is to go there and open companies and factories”.
In response, the president of Standard Angola, Luís Telles, agreed and added that "any government wants to attract local investment, because this involves knowledge transfer and has a greater impact on job creation and gross domestic product than trade alone".
In the panel discussion on the main challenges and opportunities for investment in Africa, Nuno Rangel highlighted the Lobito Corridor project as “an investment that unlocks an entire region,” and noted that smaller projects also benefit from support.
“Development finance institutions are looking for large investments and projects, and we also need small investments in warehouses, people and fleets. Financing becomes more affordable and growth accelerates when funding costs remain low, which then means that logistics also stay affordable,” he said.
The EurAfrican Forum, organised by the Portuguese Diaspora Council, is taking place today and Saturday in Carcavelos, Cascais (Lisbon), bringing together political leaders, businesspeople, researchers and other personalities from a wide range of sectors to discuss opportunities between Europe and Africa.
The eighth edition of the meeting kicks off with speeches by Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel and former Prime Minister Durão Barroso, ending on Saturday with a conversation between the Presidents of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Angola, João Lourenço, and will host nine thematic debates on Trade and Investment, Energy Security, Global Markets, Technology, Infrastructure Resilience, Financial Institutions, Startup Ecosystems, Geopolitics and Policies for Progress.
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