Thus, the government and the head of the institution met "to deepen relations and reflect on how the EIB group can strengthen its support for the country, through strategic investments".

According to the note, "this reflection focused on the strategic priorities of the EIB and the financing opportunities to advance the environmental and digital transition in Portugal", as well as "promote cohesion, strengthen the competitiveness of Portuguese SMEs and support the development of fundamental infrastructure for the country".

In this case, the Government points out "affordable housing, education infrastructure or sustainable transport".

For Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, "the European Investment Bank has been and is a decisive partner for the development and promotion of investment" in the country.

"The meeting I had with President Nadia Calviño was precisely to deepen this relationship and strategic partnership, so that we can boost investment in Portugal and accelerate the implementation of European funds, in particular PT 2030 and the PRR", he said, quoted in the same note.

In turn, the EIB President stated that the institution is "a very close partner of Portugal, supporting strategic investments in essential infrastructure, in the areas of health, education and housing, as well as within the scope of its promising business ecosystem".

The EIB President, who is visiting Portugal for the first time, also met with the Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, this Thursday.

"We had the opportunity to present in detail the axes of the sustainable economic growth program of the Portuguese economy for the coming years and to reflect on potential common opportunities with the EIB, namely through the partnership with the BPF [Banco Português do Fomento], to accelerate the financing and capitalization of investment projects in various sectors, both public and private, with a strong component of innovation, mobility, digital and energy transition", said the Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, quoted in another statement from the EIB.

Nadia Calviño also met with the Mayors of Porto and Lisbon and with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes.

The institution's investments in Portugal range from support for SMEs "in areas as diverse as technology 'startups', education, hospitality or healthcare" to major infrastructure projects critical to the country, "such as the Lisbon flood prevention system, the new Lisbon Oriental Hospital, improving maritime access to the Port of Leixões or affordable housing in Loures", said the EIB.

The EIB also recalled that it supported "the transition to a more sustainable and secure energy model, through wind energy projects such as WindFloat Atlantic, photovoltaic power plants or the modernization of the country's electricity grid".

Last year, the EIB group "granted 2.1 billion euros in financing for projects in Portugal", recalled the Government, in turn, "which represents an increase of more than 25% compared to the previous year", with "about half of this financing going to SMEs".

The EIB has already secured more than 56 billion euros for project financing since the start of its activity in Portugal.

Portugal is one of the main beneficiaries of the EIB in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with financing last year representing around 1% of Portuguese GDP, recalled the institution.

[News updated at 5:59 pm]

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