Benavente, Portugal, Sept. 7, 2026 (Lusa) - Benavente Municipal Council wishes to develop a business park covering around 32 hectares linked to the future Luís de Camoes Airport, close to the Portuguese capital, estimating that the establishment of businesses in the area could generate €100 million in turnover.
This estimate is contained in information sent by the local authority, in the region of Santarém, to the Lusa news agency regarding Operational Planning and Management Unit (UOPG) 4, an area designated for economic activities which the municipality considers «strategic for capitalising on the impact of the future airport planned for the district».
According to the council, the business hub will cover around 32 hectares, spread across three development sites located in the areas of Carrascal, Carrascal and Foros, and Vale de Gaio.
Although it does not specify the number of businesses that may set up in the area, the council states that the projects already identified or under consideration point to «an aggregate turnover in excess of €100 million in each council term» once «the area has been fully occupied».
The municipality acknowledges, however, that this figure is merely an estimate of economic potential and will depend on the companies that actually set up operations there.
This initiative is directly linked to the construction of the future Luís de Camões Airport at the Alcochete Shooting Range, which, according to the municipality, is expected to significantly increase demand for land for industrial, logistics and technology activities, as well as services supporting airport operations.
The council believes that making land available in advance for economic activities will enable it to attract some of the investment associated with the new airport and prevent the economic benefits of the infrastructure from being absorbed by other districts.
«The development of the new airport will substantially increase demand for spaces intended for industry, logistics, technology, business services, maintenance, airport-related activities and their respective supply chains,» the municipality stated in its response to Lusa.
The area has been designed to accommodate businesses in the sectors of commerce, industry, services, innovation, science and technology, with activities relating to hazardous waste or considered polluting being excluded.
The local authority also revealed that a large company linked to the biofuels sector is already in the process of setting up operations, in addition to contacts and expressions of interest from organisations in the technology, scientific, defence and services sectors.
The municipality has not, at this stage, provided an estimate of the number of jobs to be created, explaining that the figure will depend on the scale and nature of the projects that are ultimately implemented.
Nevertheless, it believes that the economic benefits could extend to sectors such as construction, transport, maintenance, engineering, retail, catering, training and accommodation.
The implementation period for UOPG 4 runs until 18 December 2028 and may be extended for a further year. Should the planned projects not proceed within this period, the land in question will revert to its original classification as rural land.
The Air Force Firing Range, also known as the Alcochete Firing Range (due to its proximity to the town of Alcochete in the municipality of Alcochete, Setúbal district), is situated mainly in the parish of Samora Correia, in the municipality of Benavente, with a small part also lying in the parish of Canha, which lies within the municipality of Montijo (Setúbal region).
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