In 2022, Portuguese exports of fruit, vegetables and flowers passed the barrier of 2 billion euros for the first time. This year, between January and June, international sales grew by 8.3%, reaching a total of 1,036,728,509 euros. This has been the first time that exports have passed a billion in the first half of the year.
The aim is now to increase this figure and to do this Portugal Fresh, the Association for the Promotion of Fruit, Vegetables and Flowers, alongside Agroglobal, has presented a joint internationalisation project for 2023-2025 that plans to carry out trade missions and scouting activities on four new markets, along with the participation in six international trade fairs and promotion initiatives to speed up the sector’s international presence.
Backed by Portugal 2030 (Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation), the project means a global investment of 1,561,663.52 euros, with a 48.8% funding by the FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development). The aim of Portugal Fresh is to strengthen the competitiveness of the companies on the international markets and reach a figure of 2,500 million euros in fruit, vegetable and flower exports in 2030.
The trade missions and the scouting activities will start in 2024, and they are focused on the markets in the United States, Chile, India and Poland (in this case for 2025). The project includes presence at the main international trade fairs in the European Union and the performance of key actions to make a negotiating platform with the 136 countries to which Portuguese products are exported.
Aimed at sharing useful knowledge with its members, the association will also strengthen its digital presence with videos and corporate scorecards with up-to-date information about the evolution of the exports. In addition to the actions planned in the project, Portugal Fresh will continue responding to the requests by associates and potential clients to visit the production areas in Portugal or promote visits to the destination markets.
