PORCHAM announced the establishment of the new International Exchange Center for Economic and Commercial Cooperation in the Greater Bay Area, a joint initiative with the Guangzhou Building Economy Promotion Association and Guangzhou Industrial Investment Promotion Association.
According to the statement, the center—established last week—aims to deepen connections between resources and services within the context of dual circulation, promoting the international development of Chinese companies and their partner countries. The project focuses on the exchange of capital, talent, and technology between China and the international community, with special attention to Portuguese-speaking countries.
Plans include the creation of offices in São Paulo, Lisbon, and Luanda, as well as sending delegations of Chinese businesses to Lusophone countries, participating in fairs and study missions, offering language and cultural training, and providing market access consulting to facilitate the entry of Chinese companies into European, African, and South American markets.
Another strategic axis of the center involves attracting talent to the Greater Bay Area, including collaboration with renowned international higher education institutions such as the universities of Coimbra and Lusíada (Portugal), Berkeley (USA), Oxford (UK), and Twente (Netherlands).
Criticism of Portugal
In a press statement, PORCHAM lamented the lack of institutional support for the work it has been undertaking. “Despite the end of AICEP’s presence in Guangzhou—a strategic mistake—the Greater Bay Area continues to show interest in Portugal and Portuguese-speaking countries, recognizing the significant effort that PORCHAM Greater China has been making, which has received little support from Portuguese authorities,” the statement reads.
Furthermore, PORCHAM expressed confusion over the decision “to send representatives to China in the areas of economic and even political diplomacy who do not master the local language.” Speaking to Plataforma, AICEP declined to comment on the statement.
