OVIA and the Federation of Industries of the State of Espírito Santo (FINDES) held on 19 November the International Business Seminar & FINDES–Oeiras Valley Business Meeting, a hybrid event, both in person and online, which strengthens economic cooperation between Portugal and Brazil and deepens the institutional relations established during the OVIA Business Mission to Brazil, carried out in March 2025. The initiative also follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June between OVIA and FINDES, consolidating a joint agenda focused on internationalization, innovation, and closer ties between business ecosystems.
The event featured a technical seminar addressing international trade, innovation, logistics, and global competitiveness, followed by bilateral business sessions between Portuguese and Brazilian entities. The opening session included remarks by the Chairman of OVIA’s Board, Ambassador António Martins da Cruz, who underlined the role of the Investment Agency as a key instrument of economic diplomacy and a strategic bridge between Oeiras Valley and Espírito Santo.
The growing relevance of Oeiras as an international hub for innovation, science, and technology became particularly evident during the pitch segment, led by member companies of OVIA, which presented their capabilities, projects, and/or ambitions for expansion into the Brazilian market. The pitch session featured the following companies: China Construction, represented by Kia Wang; Angels Recipes, presented by Prof. Rui Gomes Pedro; Consulgal, with contributions from Eng. Filipe Monteiro Nunes; Vomera, represented by Eng. Sérgio Santos; and Unipartner, with an intervention by its CEO, Fernando Reino da Costa. All these companies, member companies of OVIA, operate across strategic sectors such as engineering, metallurgical industry, information technologies, technical consultancy, food innovation, and industrial solutions, showcasing the diversity and internationalization capacity of the Oeiras Valley business ecosystem.
The joint presence of these companies on an international stage reinforces the impact of the Business Missions promoted by OVIA, which have proven to be important catalysts for results, facilitators of strategic connections, and drivers of new business opportunities. It is precisely from this ongoing work that the structured dialogue now promoted with the Espírito Santo business ecosystem emerges, involving technology institutions, innovation parks, universities, industrial clusters, and start-ups.
The event also featured contributions from entities such as Lagoas Park, Teixeira Duarte, and ISQ, all of which are also OVIA members, alongside FindesLab, Sinduscon-ES, the Food & Beverage Chamber, and various Brazilian companies. Together, these interventions created a dynamic environment for sharing insights and identifying bilateral opportunities. The event stands as another milestone in strengthening Oeiras Valley’s international presence and in advancing sustained economic cooperation, partnerships, and joint projects between Portugal and Brazil.
