Foreign direct investment reaches record levels in Porto
Since 2020, the city of Porto has raised 2.4 billion euros, with the technology, innovation, and tourism sectors in the spotlight
Between 2020 and 2024, the city of Porto attracted 2.4 billion euros in foreign direct investment (FDI). Technology and innovation, logistics and infrastructure, and tourism are among the sectors with the greatest weight. Spain, France, and the United Kingdom lead the way among investor countries.
"Over the last few decades, the city has established itself as a destination of excellence for global companies, resulting from a combination of factors such as innovation, economic competitiveness, and talent. Today, due to local universities and research centres, Porto has a highly specialised and internationally recognised workforce," said Rui Moreira, the Mayor of Porto.
The Mayor highlighted a "significant evolution" that reflects the "growing interest on the part of international companies in establishing their operations in the city."
Since 2020, the FDI figures in Porto rose to 302 million euros in 2021 and to 583 million euros in 2022, reaching record numbers of one billion euros in 2023, which represented the peak of the post-Covid recovery period. In 2024, there was a decline to 300 million euros, in line with the marked "global downward trend".
In regards to talent as a factor for Porto's international attractiveness, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) revealed that more than half of the graduates in science, engineering, and mathematics in the 2022/23 academic year graduated from colleges in Porto and the north-west region of the country.
"The strategic intercontinental location of Portugal in general, combined with the accessibility and connectivity of the city of Porto in particular, is also a differentiating factor. Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport has connections to more than 100 different destinations and the local transport network has been frequently expanded in order to make mobility in the city viable," emphasised Rui Moreira.
"At the same time, Porto stands out for its quality of life, offering a balance between personal and professional life at more competitive costs when compared to other European cities. The vibrant local culture, safety, and hospitality are also factors that distinguish the city in the eyes of international investors. In terms of its commitment to mobility and accessibility, as well as smart infrastructures, Porto is positioning itself as an innovative centre that is ready for the future," the Mayor added.
Looking at the overall Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP), with a total of 17 municipalities, Porto is the municipality that attracted the largest amount of FDI: 33 per cent in 2020; 46.3 per cent in 2021; 61.7 per cent in 2022; 98 per cent in 2023, and 52 per cent in 2024.
