Portugal, the gateway to Europe

Thu, 23 Mar 13:23

63° 17°

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Setúbal, Portugal

909.84 mph 1468.8 km/h 70%

A good place to work and live

With a population of 10.4 million within an area of 92 thousand km² (approximately 35.5 thousand mi²), Portugal has a GDP of 16,200 euros per capita. About 15% of the national population has a higher education and the country's labour force is well regarded for its high quality.

A distinctive factor noted in the Portuguese workforce is its entrepreneurial ability, as observed in the emergence of countless start-ups that have transcended borders from all parts of the country.

The Portuguese economy is diversified and almost all industries are strongly driven to export. Exports represented 41% of the GDP in 2013 and keep growing, with special emphasis on industrial supplies, consumer goods, transport material and accessories, machinery, food and drinking products, as well as fuels and lubricants.

Some products take the Portugal brand and its special quality label worldwide, as in the case of wine, processed tomato, footwear, cork and olive oil. These last two products have a greater relevance: Portugal is the largest cork exporter and it occupies the 3^rd position in the ranking of olive oil exports throughout the world.

The main trade partners are based in Europe, namely Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom and Germany. However, there was an increase in business relationships with the CPLP countries (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries) – which form a market of 250 million consumers. In this regard, Angola and Brazil still hold the highest volume of commercial trade with Portugal.

The Portuguese language represents an important factor for the economy. It is the fifth most spoken language in the world and the sixth most used language in business.

ISCTE – Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa – conducted a study which revealed that business activities related to Portuguese language countries represent 17% of Portugal's GDP.

There are other factors that define Portugal, such as:

Best road network in Europe

Portuguese national highways rank number one in Europe and number two worldwide behind the United Arab Emirates.

Data from the World Economic Forum.

Growth in the port sector

The seven main Portuguese ports handled 82.5 million tons in 2014, with a growth of 4%. These figures are largely due to the port of Setúbal, one of the country’s most strategic ports.

Data from the IMT – Institute of Mobility and Transport.

Priority for railways

The railway sector is a key priority for government investments throughout the national territory, especially the connection between Sines and Spain.

Data from the Working Group for Added Value Infrastructures (GTIVA)

The sea, a national plan

Portugal has one of the longest maritime coasts in Europe, with 942 km. Its EEZ– Exclusive Economic Zone – is the 3rd largest in the European Union (representing 11% of the total) and 11th largest in the world. But there are plans to expand this economic zone, which currently extends to a limit of 200 miles of territorial sea, to cover 350 miles, which will make it the 10th largest in the world. The sea is seen as a “national plan for the future” and the country’s strategy now is to promote maritime transport, naval construction, fishing and fish processing, among other activities.

Source: Banco BPI.

20th Tourism
Destination Worldwide

Tourism is a strategic sector for Portugal. In 2013, the country received 14.4 million visitors, making it the 20th tourism destination on the planet, according to the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2013. A study carried out by Portugal Tourism reveals the criteria that most affect tourists’ decision to visit the country:

Climate/beaches
Scenery
Cuisine
Hospitality of the Portuguese people
Cost of the trip/accommodation
Safety
Attractions/entertainment/events
Infrastructure

The Setúbal Peninsula

The Setúbal Peninsula has a very lively economy based on the sea, a factor that has led to the formation of a specialized workforce for the sector and for different industrial purposes. The majority of professional training courses are located on the Peninsula and are in line with this economic purpose.

Made up of nine councils with an area of more than 1,400 km², it has good demographic indicators. According to data from 2013*, it has 782,044 people and 49% of the population is economic active.

Learn more about the Peninsula of Setúbal | Portugal the gateaway of Europe - Blueatlantic

Learn more about the Peninsula of Setúbal and its qualified workforce | Blueatlantic

The region’s qualified workforce provides a competitive advantage

The region’s qualified workforce provides a competitive advantage. Professional training and entrepreneurialism have led to significant number of companies, with a total turnover of around 5,1 billion euros. Important institutes of vocational training and the largest portuguese exporting companies are also located nearby.

Madrid is around the corner

The Spanish capital is just 600 km away, by road or rail, from the port of Setúbal, where Blueatlantic is located. There are flights from Lisbon to Madrid several times a day, lasting just over an hour.

Madrid is the 3^rd largest city in the European Union, with a population of 3.1 million people (6 million in its greater metropolitan area).

It is the biggest financial centre in southern Europe and has one of the best living standards on the continent. In 2014, the gross domestic product was 197.7 billion euros, making Madrid the 3^rd richest city in Europe, only after London and Paris.

With an extraordinary historical wealth, the city is known for its museums, its leisure options and, of course, its football teams.

Blueatlantic is only 5 km away from Setúbal,

and 40 km from Lisbon. Setúbal’s bay is framed by the Serra da Arrábida hills with its unique geography, vegetation and landscapes, which has made it one of Portugal’s most famous postcards.