Lisbon, April 29, 2026 (Lusa) – Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Wednesday that Portugal is "highly competitive" regarding energy, with some of the "lowest costs in the European Union," expressing confidence that the country will grow above the EU average again in 2026.
Opening the first "Portugal, Global Nation" forum at the Belém Cultural Centre in Lisbon, Montenegro presented reasons for diaspora entrepreneurs to invest in Portugal.
"At this moment, we are a country in Europe that offers the lowest energy costs. I must highlight this point because, a few years ago, this was a factor against our competitiveness. Portugal is now highly competitive in terms of energy," he said. He argued that strategic autonomy in the energy sector serves as a factor of greater sovereignty and a driver of competitiveness. "The less dependent we are and the more competitive we are with energy prices, the more fertile ground we have to attract and secure new investments," he said.
Montenegro pointed to the current government's "business-friendly tax policy" as a key factor to attract investors, guaranteeing it "is here to stay".
"Despite normal democratic political struggle, I believe no one will dare, in the coming years, to challenge the fiscal strategy that makes Portugal a country that levies less tax on earned income," he said. "Therefore, it is more attractive for human capital and also charges less tax on business activity, making it more attractive for securing investments."
Highlighting the solidity of national public finances, he said that Portugal is entering its "fifth consecutive year of economic performance that exceeds the European Union average."
"If everything proceeds as planned, 2026 will be another year where Portugal grows faster than the European Union average, despite all the uncertainties and adversities," he said.
The Portugal Global Nation Forum aims to establish links between Portugal, the diaspora, and international markets. The event expects to gather over 600 participants, including companies and institutions from more than 40 countries, between Wednesday and Thursday in Lisbon.
Montenegro also highlighted the "clear commitment" of his PSD/CDS-PP executive to "reducing bureaucracy and simplifying procedures".
"I would like you to leave here very aware that we are making a great effort to make the administration's response to the requests of people and companies more agile," he said.
Montenegro further stressed that mechanisms now exist to overcome the financing difficulties that previously affected Portuguese companies or those belonging to Portuguese citizens wishing to invest in Portugal.
"We want Portuguese companies and those wishing to invest in Portugal to find a partner in the financial system and the Portuguese Development Bank, so they do not fall behind due to difficulties in accessing credit," he said.
The prime minister said he expects the forum to yield new projects and concrete investments. He asked the business leaders present to be ambassadors not only of Portuguese culture and traditions abroad, but also of the "entrepreneurial spirit and capacity for transformation” of Portuguese projects.
"I hope the list of contacts, projects, and experiences you exchange here will be inspiring and become a seed for projects that will later germinate into good investments, greater growth for Portugal, and increased prosperity for our community worldwide," he said.
SMA/RYOL // AYLS
Lusa
