AICEP
Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal

Sino-Spanish joint venture Tayan Energy will invest 700 million euros (about US$782.2 million) in building over one gigawatt of solar power generating capacity in Spain, Portugal and Italy, Lusa reports, citing a written announcement by the company.

The most competitive places in the country are located on the coast, especially Lisbon, Porto and Aveiro.

The UK Telegraph has published “20 reasons why Portugal should be your first holiday after lockdown is lifted” just as the British travel industry is putting renewed pressure on the country’s government to scrap the 14-day quarantine strategy due to start next Monday for anyone flying into the country.

The European Commission believes that the way in which Portugal "controlled" the pandemic will benefit the recovery of tourism this summer.

A consortium of Portuguese investors has made a proposal to buy a majority shareholding of Charlton Athletic, from the English football's second division.

AICEP offers a diagnosis that allows companies to understand whether or not they are prepared for the new digital side.

These are companies in the service sector: two from the USA and the rest from Germany, France and Switzerland. They are mainly companies that will establish development centres in Portugal.

AICEP launches "Why Portugal" newsletter.

Smart textiles are a new generation of innovative material offering very interesting multifunctional properties such as being integrable into uniforms and platforms. They therefore have drawn the attention of the defence sector.

The operator of the metropolitan railway in the northern Portuguese city of Oporto, Metro do Porto, will begin in the second half of next year trials of new passenger coaches built by China Railway Rolling Stock Corp. (CRRC), the China Daily reports, citing the Chinese state-owned maker.

The Designer Outlet Algarve reopens its doors on Monday, 1 June, from 12pm to 8pm, saying “hello” again to the visitors with a welcoming team promoting the safe shopping in its facilities of a typical Algarve village. The combined campaign #helloagain and #safeshopping respects all the recommendations of the General Directorate of Health.

OLX has just released a study, based on data available on the platform, in which it analyzes the evolution of demand (contacts made to ads), supply (new and active ads) and price variation in its category of houses.

The well-known manufacturer of Medicinal Gas Systems, ULTRA CONTROLO, located in Sintra, has just seen it Medical Oxygen Production Plant for filling cylinders installed in the region most affected by COVID-19, in Peru.

The SATA announced that will resume flights from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada and Terceira, as well as between Funchal and Ponta Delgada.

Portugal has become a strong location for FDI projects and the EY Attractiveness Survey Europe Report published in May gives more evidence on the Country’s potential to attract global companies. Portugal added up 158 new projects in 2019, only 18 projects away from the top 10 countries in Europe. Comparing to the previous year, this figure grew by 114 percent, the highest growth rate in the continent and in clear contrast with half of the top 10’s downward trend.

Consumer confidence and economic climate indicators “partially recovered” in May in Portugal, after having recorded “strong reductions in April” due to the covid-19 pandemic, the National Statistics Institute (INE) reported

Portugal has seen sales of electric or hybrid cars increase in the first quarter by 57 percent, compared to the same period in 2019, but associations fear that the trend will fall due to Covid-19.

Quinta do Lago’s South Course is to be given a modern makeover as part of a new €7 million golf course investment programme taking place at the resort this summer.

EDP Renováveis won a long-term contract, "at the Italian wind energy auction, for the sale of wind energy produced by two farms with total capacity of 54 MW," announced the company.

The authorities in Macao will begin next month taking applications by Macao students for annual grants worth up to 84,000 patacas (about US$10,500) to undertake postgraduate studies in Portugal.

Details Hotels & Resorts, the new operator of the Vale da Lapa resort, says it will inject a €2 million investment package into the project in order to make the asset financially viable.

Benfica and FC Porto are on the list of the 32 European football clubs with the highest commercial value, according to a study released this Thursday by KPMG.

The Portugal Film Commission, considering the current pandemic situation of COVID-19, based on the recommendations of the Portuguese Directorate-General for Health (DGS), in collaboration with the Portuguese Film and Audiovisual Institute and with the associations of producers (APCA, APENEIA, APIT, APPA, APPFP and PCIA), prepared a document with the basic guidelines to help everyone who plans, works or participates in filming in Portugal.

Lone Star put the Novo Banco's operation in Spain up for sale, after the injection of 850 million euros by the Portuguese State into the bank.

Pestana Hotel Group will begin reopening its hotels on Friday, June 5, including some of its Pousadas de Portugal (state-owned historic hotels run by the group).

The hotel group NAU Hotels & Resorts will resume activity in the Algarve starting on Sunday, 31 May, putting into operation by the end of June 10 hotels closed due to the covid-19 pandemic, announced the executive director.

Mercadona has announced plans to resume expansion in Portugal with the launch of a new store in Aveiro on 16 June.

Employees in the air transport sector in Portugal were around 16,000 in 2019, according to Eurostat data.

Autoeuropa’s director general, Miguel Sanches, is looking to the Portuguese Palmela plant to produce more Volkswagen vehicles than Germany.

Turismo de Portugal said on Friday that Golf courses in Portugal can already obtain the Clean & Safe label.

So far, Huawei has supplied inverters for over 118 GW of photovoltaic projects globally, of which 8.5 GW in Europe. In Spain, it has already installed 1.5 GW. The next target is Portugal.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd of China, the China Broadband Development Alliance, Altice Portugal SA and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) have got together to develop fifth-generation fixed telecommunications networks, Huawei says.

Finnish group Pontos, owner and developer of the Ombria Resort in Loulé, is investing €30 million in the construction of Villas Alcedo, a collection of 12 bespoke luxury villas. Construction is due to begin this summer, with prices starting at €2.5 million.

The Tivoli group has announced that it is preparing to gradually reopen its hotels in Portugal starting in June.

The Portugal Film Commission, considering the current pandemic situation of COVID-19, based on the recommendations of the Portuguese Directorate-General for Health (DGS), in collaboration with the Portuguese Film and Audiovisual Institute and with the associations of producers (APCA, APENEIA, APIT, APPA, APPFP and PCIA), prepared a document with the basic guidelines to help everyone who plans, works or participates in filming in Portugal.

Google Portugal has launched a program to help retail companies accelerate their internationalisation processes.

ENRICH in China is organizing an online event – Ask the Expert - taking place on May 26th, 2020, aiming to provide advice to European companies doing business in China. In this online session, companies will receive practical and insightful advice provided by an ENRICH in China expert based on their specific questions.

In the current pandemic scenario, it is essential to implement new solutions that can mitigate the harmful impacts that some microorganisms cause on human health. Neiper Home has been studying the problem and, despite its complexity, is determined to do its part in relation to your product: bath towels.

Premium Port Wines, the US importer of leading Port producer Symington Family Estates, is pleased to announce Vintage and Fine Wines, an online retail space offering the finest Ports, Madeiras and Douro table wines direct from the producers’ cellars in Portugal. The online store is currently open for purchases and shipping within the state of California.

Three Pestana hotels are to reopen in the Algarve on June 5.

The PSA Group manufacturing plant at Mangualde is from Monday adding a second work shift, and on May 25 a third, so returning to full production.

José Carlos Sítima was vice president of Santander Totta's board of directors. He now takes over as chairman after the death of António Vieira Monteiro in March caused by Covid-19.

According to Confidencial Imobiliário, the house prices in Portugal rose 0.5 percent in April, compared to the previous month.

The operation, which should take place in the second half of 2020, will yield a sum of 515 million euros to the company led by António Mexia.

Portugal's leading cork manufacturer saw profits increase 6.8 percent to 19.9 million euros in the first quarter.

The Portugal Film Commission, considering the current pandemic situation of COVID-19, based on the recommendations of the Portuguese Directorate-General for Health (DGS), in collaboration with the Portuguese Film and Audiovisual Institute and with the associations of producers (APCA, APENEIA, APIT, APPA, APPFP and PCIA), prepared a document with the basic guidelines to help everyone who plans, works or participates in filming in Portugal.

Portuguese small and medium enterprises aiming to do business in China have last week set up the Portugal-China SMEs Chamber of Commerce.

CSG has launched a new Experiences Practice focused to helping organizations strategize, design and deliver transformational customer experiences. This new solution-oriented practice provides a comprehensive array of capabilities and methodologies designed to accelerate strategic growth and new business ventures.

Boliqueime-based communication design company Atelier do Sul is now selling reusable face masks that can be personalised with a company logo.

The Association of Portuguese Travel Bloggers (ABVP) announced on Tuesday an initiative to help relaunch tourism in Portugal, preparing to take 46 of its members to visit several regions of the country.

Right now, if you are a doctor or a nurse in Portugal and you need to book a room where you can isolate yourself from your family to keep them safe, you can do it for free on Rooms Against Covid. There are nearly 4000 rooms available with almost 8000 nights booked.

Portugal's capital is the second most requested for international congresses, rising four places in the ranking of the International Congress & Convention Association.

A Portuguese university is a partner in a study to evaluate the impact of the new coronavirus on the health of the world population.

The organisation representing Portugal’s aeronautics, space and defence industries cluster on Monday announced that it had sent the government a document on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, containing proposals for a series of sector-specific measures.

Portuguese people consider that it is risky to travel for holidays, work or even to visit friends and family.

Portugal’s Real hotels group has been bought by a Portuguese entrepreneur for €300 million.

The Algarve has taken its first step towards opening a virtual archaeology museum detailing the region’s most important archaeological finds.

Portugal is now qualified to export beef to Hong Kong, China, through six commercial establishments in the regions of Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Alentejo and North, the Ministry of Agriculture told Lusa.

Wine Castle is now offering a home delivery service, allowing customers to have access to national wines from independent wine producers delivered directly to your home.

Jerónimo Martins Group has announced an investment of €1.2 million in a solar photovoltaic energy system at its Valongo distribution centre in the north of Portugal.

The company has secured a power purchase contract with the Redwood Coast Energy Authority in the USA.

The Fladgate Partnership is preparing to open the World of Wine (WOW), which will include six museums and nine restaurants, in Vila Nova de Gaia in the summer.

Portuguese drug company Hovione is involved in the production of an Ebola medication given emergency use authorisation for the treatment of patients with Covid-19.

The agreement will serve to promote cooperation between the two organisations.

On the first World Portuguese Language Day, the Prime Minister highlights Portuguese as a "privileged instrument for the globalisation of our days."

Turismo de Portugal launches the "It’s time to… Read Portugal" Campaign.

ENRICH in China currently has an ongoing Recruitment Call for External Service Providers (ESP), Soft Landing Zones (SLZ) and Members, open until July 31^st 2020.

Portugal's prime minister announced that the country is to make a contribution totalling 10 million euros to the Coronavirus Global Response international pledging conference.

The industry in Portugal is producing a million masks every day amid the coronavirus crisis.

The company's activity is resumed on May 6, gradually and with reinforced protection measures, advances the automotive group.

A webinar to discuss how the Algarve’s property market can overcome the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will be held on Monday, May 11 at 3pm.

Wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has acquired all the shares in Senvion’s Ria Blades factory.

More than two dozen Portuguese-speaking personalities from politics, music and sports will join in a virtual event to celebrate the first World Day of the Portuguese Language, which will take place on 5 May.

Continente bought more than €71 million of national produce to help the sector sell products at this stage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Primark has donated 18,000 products, including bed linen, pillows, towels and personal care products, to INEM – the National Institute of Medical Emergency.

Compared to non-exporters, there are more companies with an export profile maintaining the operation, with smaller decreases in turnover.

There's already a buyer for 81 percent of Brisa. It is a consortium formed by Dutch, South Korean and Swiss investors. The business evaluates the motorway concessionaire at 3,000 million euros.

OutSystems has announced the launch of the Integrated Management Platform that facilitates resource sharing across 18 municipalities in Portugal.

The Alentejo region wants to attract tourists this summer and is working on the health certification of the sector (created during the coronavirus crisis).

The Portuguese construction company will build a bridge pier and an unloading platform in what will be one of the largest gas exploration projects in the world in the next decade.

Through its Grants Programme for Scientific Research, the Bial Foundation is accepting applications of research projects in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology - projects from Clinical or Experimental Models of Human Disease and Therapy shall not be accepted.

To help restaurants provide their clients with a better take-away experience is the mission of Quero Comer - “I want to eat” in Portuguese. This is a service by the team of SeaBookings, a Portuguese startup specialised in sea tourism that, due to COVID-19, found itself in the need to diversify its sources of income.

The construction company won an international tender in Mexico to build the first section of a new railway line. A contract worth 636 million euros.

Portugal's Prime Minister António Costa announced on Thursday that the Eurogroup emergency plan is expected to come into force by June 1st.

Portugal's Competition Authority (AdC) gave the green light to Finerge's entry into the solar energy business in the country.

The Prime Minister says, in a PS podcast, that there has been an increase of foreign companies wanting to invest in Portugal.

The Portuguese government has announced a new package of measures worth €25m in an attempt to safeguard the country’s tech and startup ecosystem. 

The electric company has signed a contract with the Dutch multinational Royal DSM for the sale of electricity to be produced in Spain.

Commercialization of medical devices and protective equipment, as well as ethyl alcohol and alcohol-based skin disinfectant gel now has a 15 percent profit margin cap.

TAP-Air Portugal is negotiating a loan up to 375 million euros with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and two other international financial institutions.

In Portugal, production in the construction sector increased by 1.1 percent year-on-year and 1.3 percent quarter-on-quarter in February.

After the success of the two previous editions of the i3S Health Innovation Prize, which was characterized by the high technical and scientific level of the proposals received, i3S now announces the 3rd Edition of the Innovation Award in Health, this time dedicated to finding solutions in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.

The country has a mortality rate of around 5.5 per 100,000 inhabitants due to the new coronavirus.

Volkswagen announced in a statement that the production at Autoeuropa will resume in the last week of April.

A 15-year Power Purchase Contract (PPA) to sell the energy produced by the 200 MW Los Cuervos solar pv project. It will start operating in early 2021.

The Covid-19 crisis has hit Portugal’s tourism industry hard, not least the Martinhal luxury family hotels, part of the Elegant Group, owned by Chitra and Roman Stern. But despite the rain, “every cloud has a silver lining”, says Chitra.

Of the more than two million tourism-related businesses that existed in 2017 in the European Union, more than 120,000 were Portuguese, says Eurostat.

The Portuguese football team has decided to donate half of their Euro 2020 qualifying prize money towards the Covid-19 relief funds and support their amateur football clubs in the country. A total of 17000 detected cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Portugal with 535 fatalities.

The number of people using the Internet is growing exponentially; no surprise that more and more commercial web resources are being created every day. However, to successfully run the business through the Internet, it is necessary to develop a strategy and know the sequence of actions. It is not enough to create an online resource for business development. There are a few key points to consider when developing an online strategy.