And within this new geography, some countries start to occupy much more relevant positions than others. Portugal is, without a doubt, one of them.

Not only because of its Atlantic location, but also because of the sum of factors that today make the country a true platform for connecting economic blocs. Political stability, a solid financial system, modern infrastructure, a predictable regulatory environment, qualified talent, an internationalised business culture and a historical network of relations with South America that no other European country has of this depth.

The EU-Mercosur agreement amplifies all this. And for European companies that want to enter the South American market, Portugal appears as a natural starting point. For Mercosur companies that want to access the European market, Portugal becomes the logical gateway. In practice, the country assumes the role of a transatlantic hub for business, investment, talent, and innovation.

And this is not a theory. It is already happening on the ground. Examples such as Embraer and other Brazilian companies are choosing Portugal to install European headquarters, service centres, technological hubs, and commercial structures. South American investors use Portugal as a base for expansion. European multinationals now manage their strategy for Latin America from Lisbon and Porto.

This movement will have direct effects on the national economic fabric. And real estate is no longer just a financial asset, but becomes an economic infrastructure. Logistics, data centres, technology parks, offices, innovation hubs, and legal and financial services have become critical pieces of this new strategic function of the country.

Portugal is no longer just an attractive destination and becomes a platform for international growth.

For many years, the Portuguese economy grew mainly through tourism, domestic consumption, and traditional real estate investment. This cycle was important, but it had limits. What is now being drawn is a different, deeper, and more structural cycle, based on international integration, global value chains, qualified exports, productive investment, and talent attraction.

Mercosur offers scale, and the European Union offers market, financing, and stability, and Portugal offers the bridge between the two.

This combination creates a historic opportunity for the Portuguese economy to move up. More foreign direct investment, more internationalisation of national companies, more qualified job creation, more decision-making centres installed in the country, more innovation and technological development.

It is not an automatic growth. It requires vision, strategy, and initiative. But the window is open.

In a world increasingly fragmented by geopolitical tensions and economic downturn, Portugal emerges as a reliable, predictable, well-positioned country with the capacity to execute. The EU-Mercosur agreement expands this position decisively.

We are facing one of those rare moments in which history, economy and strategy align, and for me, Portugal’s next economic cycle starts now.