Portugal

About Portugal

Portugal is a welcoming and multicultural country with an open economy, where culture and tradition coexist with design, innovation, technology, and R&D. With almost nine centuries of history, Portugal is an innovative, sophisticated, and forward-looking country where sustainability is a priority and an industry concern.

Located in southwestern Europe, its strategic location, at the crossroads between the European, African, and American continents, and its status as a European Union and Eurozone member state make Portugal the ideal partner for business.

Portugal also has one of the most vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems in Europe and is one of the countries with the most open policies towards international investment.

According to top international rankings, Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world with political and social stability and one of the countries that invests the most in renewable energy sources and policies to combat climate change.

Portugal's excellent infrastructure, telecommunications, and great quality of life attract visitors and companies worldwide. Several multinational corporations presently prefer the country to establish their service centres and point out competencies in technological areas as one of its strengths.

Portugal is also known worldwide as an excellent tourism destination. 2023 was the best tourist year ever in Portugal, welcoming around 30 million visitors, which generated 77 million overnight stays and 25 billion euros in revenues (+18.5% in 2022).

Portugal and the Maritime Economy

Due to the length of its coastline and biogeographical position, Portugal faces the challenges of climate change, environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, the sustainable 'exploitation' of the ocean and the growth of directly related economic sectors.

As a maritime nation, Portugal has always had a strong connection with the sea, exploiting its natural resources and establishing trade routes. This maritime heritage is still reflected today in its commitment to the sustainability of the oceans and the promotion of the blue economy, with the maritime economy currently accounting for more than 4% of the Portuguese GDP (official data).

With a coastline of around 2,500 kilometres and one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the world, covering 1.7 million square kilometres, including a great diversity of ecosystems and resources, Portugal (mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores) has jurisdiction over around half of the European Union's marine waters (48%).

The delimitation process for extending the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles is currently underway at the United Nations, increasing the area covered by maritime spaces under Portugal's sovereignty or jurisdiction to 4,100,000 km2, thus extending sovereignty rights for conservation, management and exploitation of natural resources in the marine soil and subsoil.

This is one of the reasons for Portugal's increased responsibility in matters related to the governance of the ocean, including its conservation, knowledge, defence, and exploitation. With the organisation of Expo'98 in Lisbon, Portugal launched the Oceans issue onto the international political agenda. In Japan, at Expo 2025 Osaka, the sea and the blue economy once again raised the profile of the oceans, their conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources.

Portugal's participation in Expo 2025 Osaka is organised by AICEP, the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade, which is responsible for attracting foreign investment and the internationalisation of the Portuguese economy, encouraging an increase in exports and the international expansion of companies through its offices in Portugal and its overseas network in around 50 countries.

Portuguese navigators António Mota, António Peixoto and Francisco Zeimoto landed on the island of Tanegashima in 1543.
© Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, 1593 dC - 1601 dC / selo de Kano Naizen / Arte namban, escola de Kano, Foto: Luísa Oliveira/José Paulo Ruas (2015)

Portugal and Japan

A relationship of nearly 500 years

Relations between Portugal and Japan date back to 1543, when Portuguese navigators anchored in the south of the Japanese archipelago, on the island of Tanegashima, in what is described as the first contact between Europeans and Japanese and this historic moment marked the beginning of a relationship that would evolve over the centuries, significantly influencing culture, trade and diplomacy between the two countries.

The interaction between the two peoples after this encounter gave rise to a period of commercial and cultural exchanges with significant influence on the artistic context, language and religion, giving rise to Namban art, the name given to Japanese works of art (painting, sculpture, furniture, ornaments, etc.) that resulted from contact with the European presence between the last half of the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century.

The Portuguese were received with curiosity and interest by the Japanese, who were impressed by European navigators' new technologies and products, particularly firearms that the Japanese had never seen before. This first phase of relations between the two peoples was characterised by trade in goods such as weapons, fabrics and exotic products, which were exchanged for silver and Japanese silk.

However, the development of trade between the two countries led to some conflicts with the Japanese authorities, who were concerned about the increase in foreign influence and the growing Christian missionary presence in the country.

Despite the tensions, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Portugal exerted a significant influence in Japan, especially in Nagasaki, where the Portuguese established a commercial and missionary colony. Nagasaki became an important centre for trade and cultural exchange between Japan and the rest of the world, facilitating the import of European goods and the dissemination of knowledge.

One of the most lasting legacies of the Portuguese presence in Japan was the introduction of Portuguese words into the Japanese language. Many terms related to trade, technology and culture were integrated into Japanese vocabulary, such as 'pan' (bread), 'tabako' (tobacco), and 'biru' (beer), among others. This linguistic legacy is still evident today and reflects the influence of Portuguese culture on Japanese society.

The first Portuguese presence in Japan lasted almost a century, ending in 1639 with the last edict expelling the Portuguese from Japanese territory. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established in 1860 and are considered the basis for the second Portuguese-Japanese encounter, which continues today.

In the 20th century, relations between Portugal and Japan were marked by growing economic and diplomatic cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, tourism and culture.

Today, Portugal and Japan enjoy a strong friendship and a relationship characterised by growing cooperation and mutual respect. Both countries recognise the value of collaboration and dialogue and work together on various global issues, including promoting peace, security and sustainable development.

The theme of Expo 2025 Osaka - 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives' - confirms the commitment of both countries to meeting the challenges of the 21st century and promoting the development and well-being of their societies in particular and the world in general.

Expo Osaka: An Opportunity for the Japanese to Discover Modern Portugal

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