Turkish contractors have embarked on a visit to Portugal to examine on site the EUR 100 billion worth of planned infrastructure and superstructure projects and to discuss potential collaborations. The delegation, organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and coordinated by the Turkish Contractors Association (TMB), will meet with relevant Portuguese ministries and institutions to gather information on the projects in question.
Organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade and coordinated by the Turkish Contractors Association (TMB), the contractors’ mission covering Lisbon and Porto kicked off today and will continue until 16 October. During the visit, Turkish companies will meet with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, the Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency (AICEP), the Association of Construction and Public Works Industries (AICCOPN) and other public bodies to learn about large-scale investment projects in the country, evaluate cooperation opportunities and hold B2B meetings with Portuguese firms.
Major Potential in Portugal
The contractors’ mission was planned following briefings received during the visits of Hugo Morato Alface do Espírito Santo, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, in January, and Minister Miguel Pinto Luz in September to the Turkish Contractors Association, as well as an invitation extended to Turkish contractors. The aim is to secure a share of the projects valued at approximately EUR 70–100 billion scheduled for the next five years. Of this amount, EUR 45 billion is earmarked for infrastructure projects, while the remainder will be allocated—via public–private partnership models—to housing, transport, energy and urban development. These projects will be financed through the state budget, European Union funds and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
In this context, opportunities for Turkish contractors include the new Lisbon Airport and “Airport City” project; high-speed rail lines linking Porto–Lisbon, Porto–Vigo and Lisbon–Madrid; the expansion of Lisbon and Porto metro systems; housing, schools and cultural facilities; large-scale urban development projects such as energy, water supply and wastewater systems; as well as telecommunications infrastructure, mining, green spaces and sustainable urbanism initiatives.
Turkish Contractors Target New Opportunities in Europe
TMB President Erdal Eren underlined that the visit would open a new door for the Turkish construction sector in Europe, stating: “To date, Turkish contractors have undertaken more than 12,000 projects worth USD 546.5 billion across 137 countries. In Europe, we have delivered 1,649 projects totalling USD 55.4 billion. In Portugal—where we first won projects in 2024—two projects worth USD 71 million have been undertaken so far. The cooperation potential between our countries is far greater. The experience and international success our firms have gained in diverse geographies enable us to offer competitive and sustainable solutions in EU countries such as Portugal. Therefore, we aim for our firms to play an active role in Portugal and in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) in the coming period. We believe this visit will lay the foundation for long-term partnerships.”