Forging a Closer Relationship

U.S. - Portuguese political, economic and cultural ties have never been closer

Portugal and the United States have long been close friends and allies and business, cultural and educational ties between the two countries are growing. Two organizations-the Luso-American Foundation and the American Chamber of Commerce in Portugal-are working to see that this continues and their directors say they are confident that bilateral relations on all fronts will definitely prosper in the future.

"Our main purpose is to contribute to the social and cultural development of this country, mainly but not exclusively, through fostering cooperation between Portugal and the United States," explains Luso-American Foundation president Rui Chancerelle de Machete.

Sixteen years ago, the Portuguese government created the foundation as an institution under private law and its initial funding came from financial contributions provided through U.S.-Portuguese cooperation agreements.

Since its beginnings, the foundation has sponsored scholarships for U.S. students of Portuguese descent and provided funding for the hiring of American professors at MBA programs at Portuguese universities.

It has also contributed to a U.S.-funded project to study, perfect and promote energy efficiency in small- and medium-sized Portuguese cities and supported Portuguese studies programs at U.S. universities.

Promoting business and trade links between the two nations is the job of the American Chamber of Commerce in Portugal whose executive director says that attracting more American companies to the country is his prime task.

"There are between 150 and 160 U.S. firms doing business here," explains Henrique Monjardino Brito do Rio. "Many of them came to Portugal because of its high-tech reputation."

"And there are many Portuguese companies finding real success in the United States. But I feel that bilateral trade could still be improved."

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