Latest news and stories about investment in work in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Canadian IT consultancy CGI announced the opening of its first Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence in Portugal. The new facility will focus on generative AI and agent-based technologies, with the company planning to hire 100 people annually to support digital transformation projects.
Swedish manufacturer Saab is exploring the possibility of assembling components for its Gripen E/F fighter jets in Portugal as part of its bid to replace the Portuguese Air Force's aging F-16 fleet. The company already collaborates with Portuguese firms like Critical Software and OGMA on technology and maintenance. Saab officials argue that this partnership would strengthen Portugal's digital sovereignty and industrial capabilities.
OGMA (Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal) is a major aerospace company based in Alverca that specializes in the maintenance, repair, and manufacturing of aircraft components. It is a joint venture between the Brazilian company Embraer and the Portuguese state, and it serves as a key facility for international defense contracts, including potential assembly work for fighter jets.
Bankinter has announced a five-year plan to become one of the six largest banks in Portugal by overtaking competitors like Banco Montepio. The bank's head in Portugal, Alberto Ramos, stated the strategy focuses on growing corporate lending and expanding digital services. The branch, which entered the market ten years ago, currently reports higher efficiency levels than its Spanish parent company.
Alberto Ramos is the Country Manager of Bankinter Portugal, leading the bank's operations since it entered the Portuguese market in 2016. He oversees the branch's strategy to grow its market share in corporate and retail banking, aiming to compete with major domestic banks like Crédito Agrícola and Banco Montepio.
Real estate transactions account for 50% of all foreign investment currently flowing into Portugal.
A reflection on the evolution of the Portuguese startup ecosystem over the last decade and the need to focus on future growth.
Portugal is experiencing a sustained influx of American residents and investors, driven by factors beyond its climate, including economic incentives and a favorable financial landscape for expatriates.
President António José Seguro is attending the Cape Verde-Portugal economic forum in Praia to explore and identify new bilateral business and investment opportunities.
The Luso-BR Connection initiative offers support for tourism startups in Brazil and Portugal, providing soft-landing programs in Aveiro and Recife, with selected participants attending the Web Summit in Lisbon.
The PSD has successfully passed a committee-stage initiative to clarify that a 6% reduced VAT rate on urban rehabilitation works has been in effect since 2009, effectively blocking the Tax Authority from imposing retroactive 23% charges.
An opportunity to strengthen confidence in the sector and create a more stable framework for those investing in the recovery of urban heritage.
The launch of a major competition during the summer months reflects a bureaucratic approach that fails to align with the practical needs and operational realities of businesses.
The new EU regulation is essential for future Foreign Direct Investment in Portugal, reflecting the current geopolitical climate and the European Union's commitment to strategic autonomy.
State financial support, funded by the PRR, allows for the reimbursement of digital training expenses of up to €750 per worker. The measure has been extended until the end of the first half of 2026, and applications are open until June 30.
An analytical examination of how Empowered Startups is quietly driving Portugal's economic growth by attracting global talent, fostering innovation, and creating new job opportunities.
Portugal is set to launch a new Economic and Business District, a strategic urban development project aimed at stimulating the commercial property market and fostering long-term job creation.
Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento's proposal for a new windfall tax faces skepticism due to the historical failure of similar measures and the government's tendency to make 'temporary' taxes permanent, as seen with the CESE and Stamp Duty.
Five PSI-listed companies report earnings today amidst a busy economic calendar featuring employment data, interest rate updates, Mota-Engil's debt issuance, and a European Court of Auditors report on EU recovery funds.
An analytical comparison of Portugal and Thailand as destinations for remote workers in 2026, focusing on cost of living, tax implications, and financial investment opportunities for expatriates.
Over twenty-four national defence companies are traveling to the United States to attend the Sea-Air-Space Expo and the inaugural PT-US Defence Industry Days, marking a strategic effort to enhance the global visibility and market positioning of the national defence sector.
Lufthansa confirms its intent to submit a proposal for the privatisation of TAP, aiming to expand the Lisbon hub and develop Porto as a secondary hub while seeking eventual management control.
Joom CEO Ilya Shirokov warns that proposed changes to Portugal's nationality law create market uncertainty and hinder the recruitment of international talent, noting that the company has already lost potential candidates to Germany.
The office market in Porto is experiencing high demand, with one-third of the 98,600 square metres currently under construction already reserved.
The Portuguese real estate market saw record highs in 2025, with prices and transactions on the rise. The five largest real estate agency networks in Portugal reported a significant revenue growth of 24.4%, attributed to an influx of nearly 25,000 house sellers contributing to the booming market.
Every day, justice declares insolvency for 17 individuals, with commerce and workshops leading the charge in business bankruptcies. The crisis is also escalating in sectors such as hospitality, catering, and agriculture, indicating a broader economic downturn.
Economist João Rodrigues dos Santos warns that the €2.5 million package announced by the Prime Minister to support populations and businesses affected by Storm Kristin is likely insufficient. He argues the sum will fall short of actual needs and calls for larger, targeted structural investment in climate adaptation and resilience — prioritising long-term public safety, sustainable infrastructure and policy measures rather than one-off relief.
Portugal is seeking to enhance its appeal to Middle Eastern investors, particularly from Qatar, by shifting its marketing strategy beyond just its favorable climate. In Doha, representatives from Startup Portugal are engaging with local entrepreneurs to promote investment opportunities in the country.
Luz Prime, a Rio de Janeiro–founded tech firm (2007), has expanded into Portugal with financial management software targeted at SMEs. The company describes the Portuguese tax environment as both a challenge and an opportunity, highlighting the demand for tools that automate finance tasks while ensuring local compliance. Its entry increases competition in the SME financial-tech market and underscores critical success factors: product localisation for Portuguese tax and accounting practices, competitive pricing for smaller firms, and partnerships with local advisers and integrators. Market uptake will hinge on how well Luz Prime adapts its offering to regulatory requirements and established local competitors.
A preliminary protocol for Banco Português de Fomento’s new Financial Instrument for Innovation and Competitiveness (IFIC) foresees a €1 billion credit line covering projects in reindustrialisation, defence and artificial intelligence. Companies using bank loans to finance the portion of IFIC‑supported projects will benefit from a two‑year grace period, easing early repayment pressures and potentially encouraging private co‑finance. The measure signals a targeted industrial‑policy push to mobilise investment and employment in strategic sectors while leveraging public support to unlock additional bank lending.
Guimarães has been chosen as the site for the presentation of Portugal’s national space strategy, a symbolic starting point for mayor Ricardo Araújo’s plan to turn the municipality — home to the Guimarães Space Hub — into an Iberian leader in the aerospace sector. Local authorities are pursuing rehabilitation of facilities, investment and economic activation to attract industry, create jobs and build a skills pipeline. Realising that ambition will require sustained funding, coordination with national and international partners, and targeted policies to translate strategy into industrial growth rather than a one‑off showcase.
TAP is investing €20 million to build a new aircraft maintenance hub and hangar in Porto, a project due to take two years and expected to create about 200 jobs. The move is intended to increase the carrier’s maintenance self-sufficiency, reduce outsourcing and boost operational autonomy as the airline undergoes privatisation, while Porto’s network will be strengthened with services to Terceira, Praia, Tel Aviv and an enhanced link to Boston.
Compete will open five funding calls in January for large companies, accounting for roughly one third of the programme’s corporate allocation under Portugal 2030, the agency’s president told ECO dos Fundos. The calls come with strengthened support rates aimed at accelerating project implementation and unlocking private investment. For large firms, the tranche presents a concentrated opportunity to secure EU-backed grants that could expedite capital expenditure, support job-creating projects and align corporate investment with Portugal 2030 priorities. The measure also signals an administrative push to deploy funds faster, with potential sectoral and regional impacts depending on application uptake and award conditions.
Galp and Moeve have entered detailed talks to combine their refining operations and filling-station networks, a complex transaction that is likely to be lengthy and closely scrutinised. The Portuguese Communist Party has already criticised the proposed deal and the government will have a role in the approval process, raising political as well as regulatory stakes. The transaction will test Brussels’ evolving approach to competition and regulation in the energy sector, with implications for pricing, investment and market structure in Portugal.
