Portugal Today

Got this presentation about the real and unknown value of Portugal; quite interesting to find that we are actually leaders in many areas, namely technology and banking. It is a presentation by ICEP, our Public Relations boys :) It shows we aren't only about good beaches and football!

WELCOME TO PORTUGAL!
This is about a country that you don't know. It's about facts that will surprise you. It's about brands that are all over the world, often on your doorstep, but you do not realise where they come from.

Do you know what NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) do to avoid critical situations arising in their computer systems? And what does London Underground or the railway networks of the Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Denmark do when they need rail management software? They go to Portuguese companies.

International demand for machinery made in Portugal (moulds, electronics, automotive components, pneumatic and hydraulic equipment, etc) continues to grow and assist the development of countries throughout the world. Do you know machinery is Portugal's nr 1 export?

Did you know Portugal is a state-of-the-art point of reference and reliability in the moulds industry? Samsonite, Nokia, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are just some of the famous names that rely on Portuguese talent and engineering.

Did you know that 26 million Americans sleep on Portuguese sheets? And that Portugal leads Europe in home textiles and is the third largest exporter in the world? Our brands stand out because of their sheer innovation: intelligent fabrics, fabrics that are fire-retardant, anti-bacterial or have therapeutic and hydrating properties.

Did you know that leading celebrities prefer to wear Portuguese brands? The same is true of Fepsa, manufacturer of felt hats or Vicri, a brand of menswear chosen by such leading figures as Tony Blair, the King of Spain and Bill Clinton. It is also worn by celebrities like Hugh Grant, Ben Affleck and Figo. And the list goes on: Lanidor, Dielmar, Diniz e Cruz, Impetus, Salsa Jeans are some of the brands you will hear about.

Did you know that Portugal leads the world in footwear technology? That it is Europe's nr 3 exporter? That it invented bullet-proof shoes? Ninety million people in the world choose Portuguese shoes. Steven Spielberg is one of them - the brand Swear supplied the shoes for Star Wars. And Fly-London, Yucca and Aerosoles just keep growing.

Did you know that it was Portugal that invented pre-payment cards for mobile communications? And that in Portugal you can buy a cinema ticket and choose where you sit - by mobile phone? Mobycomp, Quadriga, Ydreams (creator of technological solutions for global customers such as Adidas, Vodafone or Nokia) and of course, Portugal Telecom, are the world's most innovative companies in this sector.
We invented a biometric payment system for the gas stations and a gas bottle that it's the lightest in the world and which won several international prizes.

Portugal is acknowledged as being the world's leading cork producer. But there are also some lesser known areas in which it leads. Did you know that Number Five has captured 75% of the world market for self-identification? And have you heard of Altitude (leading supplier of technology for call-centres and CRM), and what about Chipidea (worls leader in the design of analogue solutions that provide the interface between digital technology and the real world)?
We have one of the bets ATM systems in the world, on which we use transactions that are not available in Germany, the UK or the US. We also have 3 of our banks on the top 5 in the world. We developed a very efficient and practical system to pass the highway tolls too.

Did you know that the Portuguese company Vista Alegre/Atlantis is one of the 10 main porcelain producing groups in the world?
Other major brands as Spal, Topazio, Cutipol or Satira offer creativity and design for a happier home.

Did you know that Portugal is building Europe's largest solar power station? And that wind is the main target investment? Have you heard of SRE? This is a Portuguese company that researches and develops products based on the use of hydrogen. All of these are aimed at new forms of energy - economical, clean and peaceful.
We are also well ahead in the investigation of energy production through the sea waves.

Beating incurable diseases or preserving stem cells for regenerative medicine are the everyday concerns of companies such as Biotecnol, Alfama, Crioestaminal, Medinfar/Cytothera, Biocant and IBET. Others are developing new pharmaceutical solutions - companies as Bial and Cipan. We also have a company which investigates the DNA of plants and animals and sends the results for its clients all throughout Europe via computer languages. And did you know that we are launching an anti-epilepsy medicine world-wide? All these companies are working to achieve a better life - surely they deserve to be known?

From Asia to America, from Africa to Europe, for centuries Portugal construction skills have presented challenges, made their mark and endured. Do you know how? With Portuguese architects, engineers and materials. The airport on Madeira and the Ponte da Amizade on Macau are just recent examples. Or the high-quality hotel networks we build all over the world, by Grupo Pestana, Vila Gale, Porto Bay, BES Turismo or Amorim Turismo.

In a blind tasting carried out recently of the most renowned fine wines by international wine experts, of the ten wines chosen as being the best, four were Portuguese. In addition, there is port, olive oil, the best fish and shellfish in the world and all the advantages of a Mediterranean diet with an Atlantic flavour.

Shopping centres in Portugal are global experiences offering culture, entertainment and shopping. Sonae Sierra is a European leader in the creation and management of these consumer giants.

Nelo is one of the best-known kayak brands in the world. First in Sydney, and then more recently in Athens, its kayaks helped several teams and athletes to win medals at the Olympic Games. They are Portuguese in design and production and their technology revolutionised standards for top competition in this field.

Portugal is a unique destination: no other country in Europe can offer so much diversity within such short distances. A destination with sunshine and the Atlantic Ocean, the history of all the continents concentrated in just one place, a people who speak everyone's language because they speak the universal language of emotion. Our visitors always want to return.

To be Portuguese is to be sociable, warm-hearted, imaginative, sentimental, open to the world. It is to be passionate about new things, new ideas. It is to be proud of one's heritage, without any trace of arrogance.
Above all, it is to make oneself available.

Our past is well-known: a nation of explorers and pioneers, forerunners in trade and international contact. Our present is not well-known, but hopefully better known after this brief presentation: a country with high-quality infrastructures, a leading niche provider of telecommunications, technology and services. But it's our common future that is important: think of us as a country that is nearby, always committed to new discoveries and innovation.
Your friendly and reliable global partner.

By now, the Portuguese community reading this post is drooling. But I'm all for showing off our good achievements, why only remember the bad statistics?