Major investors in Porto are sure of an economy with sustainable impact
If the results of investing in a consistent strategy to attract large companies were already visible, they have now been proven. The conclusions of a study on Porto Leading Investors, the program that brings together companies and investors that have contributed to the city's economy, show it to be "a powerful lever for economic and social development" in the country. There are 26,000 jobs created, 222 million euros invested in Porto in four years and a future that is still growing. Talent. Technology. Tolerance. In the view of the Councillor for the Economy, Employment and Entrepreneurship, these are the major factors in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to the Porto region.
In terms of
tax revenue, the impact is 209 million euros, and the impact on household
income is 715 million. In terms of employment, there will be 25,731 new jobs.
It is also
important to note that 65% of the suppliers of these companies are national,
that 88% of the activities carried out are in the area of innovation and that
44% of these investors offer products or services with a direct positive
environmental impact.
When
compared to the national average, the group of companies outperforms in several
parameters: in labor productivity (4% more), in the intensity of value creation
(23 percentage points more) and in innovation activities (40 percentage points
more).
Beyond
economic values, the study also shows a "clear commitment to ecological
values", with the products and services developed by 44% of Porto Leading
Investors having a significant positive environmental impact.
In
addition, 79% of the companies carry out social actions in the community and
half use social criteria when selecting their suppliers.
For the
future, the group of companies currently included expects to grow by 14%/year
until 2026, in terms of the number of jobs created.
"We have
the talent and technology to rival the international ecosystem."
The
presentation of the study's results was also the opportunity for a round table
discussion on Porto's attractiveness in terms of FDI. Pedro Sousa Rodrigues
acknowledged that the city "has managed, in recent years, to present
itself well abroad", highlighting the strength of the "Porto"
brand and that the main factors that bring investors to the city are talent and
quality of life. Despite the "negative external shock", with the
decrease in international investment, the advisor to AICEP's board of directors
stresses that "Porto continues to be in interesting demand".
Maria Moura
Oliveira highlighted the fact that "16% of the companies that make up
Porto Leading Investors have come through UPTEC", which is confirmation
that "we have talent and technology capable of rivaling the international
ecosystem".
For his
part, João Maia, director-general of the Portuguese Association of Footwear,
Components, Leather Goods and Related Industries, recalled that the footwear
sector "was one of the first to attract foreign investment", which
helped its development, and that "some of these investors are still here
and reinvesting".
