AICEP Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency
AICEP Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency Chicago
AICEP is the public agency under the Ministries of Economy and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, responsible for inward investment and the internationalization of the Portuguese economy. Operating under the Embassy of Portugal in D.C., the Chicago office serves as the Midwest’s one-stop shop for:
- Trade: Connecting regional buyers with Portuguese exporters.
- Investment: Facilitating U.S. capital into Portugal’s industrial and tech sectors.
- Talent: Managing the inov contacto international internship program.
Jurisdiction: Midwest, USA (12 States).
Portugal’s Economy
The Midwest is Portugal’s fastest-growing U.S. market, with exports reaching a record $1.43 billion in 2025—accounting for 22.6% of all Portuguese exports to the United States. Trade is driven by high-value industrial sectors:
- Life Sciences & Chemicals: Over 60% of exports consist of pharmaceutical and organic chemical products.
- Industrial Machinery: Specialized production of high-precision machinery, reators, and boilers.
- Advanced Manufacturing: Key supplier of rubber products, electrical machinery, and metalwork.
- Sustainable Materials: World leader in cork products and high-end ceramics for commercial design.
Mário Quina – Director AICEP Chicago
Mário Quina is the Director of AICEP Portugal Trade & Invest in Chicago, where he has led Portugal’s Midwest operations since establishing the regional office in 2022, as well as Economic Counsellor at the Portuguese Embassy in DC. He concurrently serves as Vice President of CITCA and recently completed a tenure as Interim Director of AICEP’s New York office (2023–2024). Before, he served as Director of AICEP’s Shanghai office at the Consulate General of Portugal in Shanghai, following a five-year post as Project Manager at AICEP in London. A law graduate from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, his career spans over a decade of international trade diplomacy, foreign direct investment (FDI) management, and the establishment of new diplomatic commercial frontiers across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Contact
Address: 8 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 3700, Chicago, IL 60603
Email: mario.quina@portugalglobal.pt | Phone: 917 250 5406
Last update: 2026
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