Ambiente Fair: Joint Exhibition Opens the Doors to Portugal

At Hall 12.0 C50 of the Ambiente Fair venue in Frankfurt, Germany, the words "Made In Portugal Naturally" summarize what visitors can expect to find. For the fourth time in Ambiente, the "Mostra de Produtos Portugueses" (Portuguese Products Showcase) aims to highlight Portugal's name and its Home Cluster potential through a joint stand featuring 65 national companies and an exhibition of 300 pieces.

Organized by NERLEI CCI - Business Association of the Leiria Region/Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with AICEP (Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency), the space aims to emphasize the quality, innovation, and versatility of Portuguese companies in foreign markets. To achieve this, the exhibition benefits from the curation of designer Miguel Costa Cabral and follows a concept that, brings a piece of Portugal to the world's largest and most important consumer goods fair.

The "Made In Portugal Naturally" label was created to establish a concept that reflects the country's identity and national industries in the global market, while highlighting the importance of a more sustainable future. This cross-sectoral initiative, promoted by AICEP, also serves as the theme for the "Mostra de Produtos Portugueses", where the quality and diversity of production will be on display, as well as the growing investment in solutions that ensure a sustainable future for national industries.

Appealing to a common identity - captured through the concept of "Portugality" - the joint stand offers an immersive experience for all visitors, engaging them in Portuguese tradition through an appeal to the five senses. From the diversity of shapes and textures of the 300 pieces on display, to the flavors and smells of iconic products such as pastéis de nata, wine, and cheese from the Leiria Region, the experience is further enhanced by the melancholic sound of fado, opening Portugal's doors to potential business partners.

NERLEI CCI: Taking Portugal, Leiria, and the Home Sector Further

Founded in 1985 and recognized as a Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2023, NERLEI CCI represents the business fabric of the Leiria Region, with internationalization support being one of its core areas of activity. In this context, NERLEI CCI has participated in the Ambiente Fair for over two decades, supporting both individual and joint company participation.
Henrique Carvalho, the Association's Executive Director, emphasizes: "For many companies, this is the only international stage to present their work and new collections. Participation in the Ambiente Fair, and specifically the "Mostra de Produtos Portugueses" as a unifying showcase of potential, is a key element of an internationalization strategy that has already yielded significant."

As part of the International Business 2023-25 project, and alongside the joint stand, the NERLEI CCI also organizes and supports the individual participation of 73 of the 105 Portuguese companies present at this year's Ambiente. According to Henrique Carvalho, "this number has been growing, reflecting the satisfaction felt by the companies we support about their performance and results at the fair. Two months following the ending of last year's edition, the business volume generated-thanks to the establishment of nearly five thousand contacts and the acquisition of over 900 new clients-exceeded 3.2 million euros."

For the 2025 edition, NERLEI CCI has set strategic priorities focusing on expanding exports and exploring new markets. Increasing brand visibility, establishing and strengthening partnerships, and closing deals are common objectives for all participants.

Pairing Tradition with Innovation, the Home Cluster Conquers Markets:

With over 7,000 companies and 64,000 employees in Portugal, the Home Cluster comprises the furniture, home textiles, household utilities (ceramics, cutlery, metal tableware, small appliances, glass, and crystal), and lighting industries-sectors that, together, generated over 4.4 billion euros in revenue in 2022, according to data obtained by INE (Portuguese National Institute of Statistics).
Henrique Carvalho highlights that "the cluster is strongly characterized by the art of craftsmanship, combined with product quality," adding: "This segment has a remarkable ability to adapt, innovate and set trends. With a production process increasingly indissociable of creative industries, Portuguese companies
have responded to the growing importance of brand identity, design, aesthetics, comfort, sensory experiences, and sustainability."

The inherent know-how of tradition, combined with efficiency and the ability to quickly produce small series, has proven to be a competitive advantage for Portugal's Home Cluster in international markets. As such, internationalization remains a priority for this industry segment, which operated in 185 markets in 2023. By contributing over 2.8 billion euros to its revenue, Home Cluster exports represent 3.7% of all Portuguese international trade. An overall growth trend following the pandemic has been registered, with France (€767M), Spain (€526M), and the United States (€382M) topping the list of export destinations.

Central de Informação:
Maria Correia (mariacorreia@centraldeinformacao.pt)
Edifício Centro Burgo. Avenida da Boavista, 1773-B, 3° andar

Founded in 1985, the Association represents the business fabric of the Leiria Region, Portugal. Its primary mission is to provide useful services that contribute positively to the results achieved by its member companies, strengthening the business sector and promoting the economic and social development of both the Leiria region and Portugal. In June 2023, it was recognized as a Chamber of Commerce and Industry by the Ministry of Economy and Maritime Affairs, adopting the designation NERLEI CCI - Business Association of the Leiria Region/Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This release was published on openPR.