Portugal: A History of Navigating the Unexplored

When you think of Portugal, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Could it be Figo or Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the most important football players in the world? Do you think about Fado, a lament in the shape of a song that American actor Richard Gere loves so much? Maybe you imagine the beaches of Algarve, with their cliffs and white sands. Regardless of what comes to mind, the little country next to Spain has many advantages that often go undiscovered by most people.

Portugal is an independent republic, on the western-most side of Europe, located on the Iberian Peninsula. Its only neighbor is Spain, bordering it to the north (Galicia), and east (Extremadura and Andalucía regions). The Atlantic Ocean forms the country’s western border -- a natural border that has culturally and socially defined the country. The total area of Portugal is comprised of nearly 10,000 square kilometers. The climate is considered to be Temperate Atlantic, with a mix of Temperate Continental, which is characterized by warm winters and hot summers.

The country’s entrance into the European Union in 1986 helped ease the country’s economic hardship and fostered the development of Portugal’s transport network, industries and services. However, Portugal’s economy continues to struggle, relying exclusively on foreign trade, exporting cork, chemicals and paper, and importing almost everything else. As one of the countries in Europe with the largest number of small and medium-sized companies, Portugal invests heavily in businesses such as telecommunications and design, thus exporting many experts and ideas abroad.

The national healthcare system in Portugal is generally good, but is burdened by long waiting lists for patients needing surgery. The Government is working to modernize the infrastructures and hiring additional personnel, to correct the situation. As for education, public schools are free, and the Government has been investing heavily in preschool education for children under 3 years of age. And, in fact, Portugal is considered to be one of the top ten countries in the OECD in terms of higher education.

Portugal has become an immigration-friendly country. In recent years, many immigrants from Brazil and Eastern Europe have moved to Portugal to work, changing the long-standing view of the country as being an “emigrant country” to an “immigrant” country”. The Government was ill-prepared at first to deal with this wave of immigration and struggled with how to handle the growing number of illegal immigrants. However, recent EU legislation permitting immigrants to freely settle has helped the country to adapt and better handle the situation.

Portugal may seem isolated from the rest of Europe geographically, leading some to believe its people may be as well, but that perception would be inaccurate. Since the 15th century, Portuguese explorers have exhibited an adventurous spirit that fostered an openness, curiosity and willingness to expand their horizons to a variety of new influences. A perspective that is still evident even to this day as its people continue to create new ideas and concepts in a variety of areas such as design and science.

Portugal is characterized as a nation that is:

Open to entrepreneurs | Portugal has one of the highest rates of self-employed (24%) among OECD countries. The Government actively encourages entrepreneurship.

Hospitable and welcoming | The Portuguese people are friendly, kind, soft-spoken and tolerant.

A leading wine producer | There are around 350,000 hectares of grape vines spread throughout the country, from which Port wine and other tables wines are produced and exported abroad.