GMT+0
Same time as UK and Ireland
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Investment
Global Market Access
As a privileged platform between continents and markets, Portugal is well connected and offers a unique location that facilitates business whether you go East or West.
International Benchmarking
Located at the crossroads between Europe, Africa and the Americas, with excellent connectivity by air, land and sea, Portugal is an Atlantic hub that allows companies to reach global markets.
Given its strategic location and stable economy, Portugal is also one of the most relevant nearshoring destinations in Europe, attracting companies from all over the world to establish or expand their business.
A gateway to the world
As the westernmost country of continental Europe, Portugal lies on the Iberian Peninsula at the convergence of three continents. Its strategic location offers a privileged entry point into the Schengen Area, with most European capitals within a 3-hour flight from Lisbon. It is also the nearest European country to the U.S., Canada and South America.
Adding to this, Portugal is a member of the European Union and the eurozone, which offers access to one of the largest free trade areas in the world – the EU market of nearly 500 million consumers, from 27 countries.
With an ideal time zone to work from
Mainland Portugal, along with the autonomous region of Madeira, follows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), a convenient time zone that facilitates teamwork and coordination between multiple geographies.
It is within the same time zone as the UK and Ireland, with only a 1-hour difference from the majority of Central and Western Europe, and a 2-3 hour difference from Brazil, Turkey or the Middle East.
Within reasonable working hours, there is also a 6-hour overlap with the U.S. East Coast and a 3-hour overlap with the West Coast. This provides a good time frame for real-time communication, making Portugal a truly global base.
Open to international cooperation
Reflecting the country’s openness and level of integration into the world economy, Portugal has entered into several bilateral agreements and conventions with different countries and supranational entities.
Aside from the European Union, Portugal is a member country of the United Nations, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organisation, just to name a few.
The country is also part of 87 international organisations and has signed conventions for the avoidance of double taxation with more than 70 countries.
A global language that bridges continents and cultures
Portugal's historical and linguistic ties with the Asian, African and Southern American continents make it a bridge for international relations.
As the official language of nine countries, Portuguese is currently the fifth most spoken language in the world, with more than 260 million speakers – a number that is expected to rise to almost 400 million by 2050 and to 500 million by 2100, according to United Nations estimates.
The Portuguese language is also the cornerstone of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), a privileged multilateral forum that promotes cultural, economic, and political cooperation between member states. Besides Portugal, this alliance brings together six countries from Western and Southern Africa, as well as Brazil and East Timor, which represents a potential market of more than 290 million consumers.
