2. new perspective This about a country 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.
3. 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. Critical Software is a global point of reference in the development for critical information systems. Meanwhile, SISCOG continues to attract the world’s most demanding customers. maximum speed, maximum safety
4. experts in precision 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. Did you know that machinery is Portugal’s No. 1 export ?
5. design and engineering Did you know that 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.
6. 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? Portuguese brands stand out because of their sheer innovation: intelligent fabrics, fabrics that are fire-retardant, anti-bacterial or have therapeutic and hydrating properties. new generation fabrics
7. desired brands 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 Luís Figo. And the list goes on: Lanidor, Dielmar, Diniz e Cruz, Ímpetus, Salsa Jeans are some of the brands you will hear about.
8. Did you know that Portugal leads the world in footwear technology? That it is Europe’s No. 3 exporter? That it invented bullet-proof shoes? Ninety million people in the world choose Portuguese shoes. Steven Spielberg is one of them: the Portuguese brand Swear supplied the shoes for Star Wars. And Fly London, Yucca and Aerosoles just keep growing. shoes of the future
9. Power in the palm of your hand 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
10. 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 (world leader in the design of analog solutions that provide the interface between digital technology and the real world)? hidden leadership
11. 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 such as Spal, Topázio , Cutipol or Sátira offer creativity and design for a happier home. light and design
12. pure energy Did you know that Portugal is building Europe’s largest solar power station? And that wind power is the main target for 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.
13. technology for life Beating incurable diseases or preserving stem cells for regenerative medicine are the everyday concerns of companies such as Biotecnol , Alfama (winner of the European start-up prize in 2005), Crioestaminal , Medinfar / Cytothera , Biocant and IBET . Others are developing new pharmaceutical solutions – companies such as Bial and Cipan . All these companies are working to achieve a better life – surely they deserve to be known?
14. 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. passion for construction
15. for the table, nothing but the best 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.
16. 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 great experiences
17. navigating – always pioneers 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.
18. Portugal is a unique destination: no other country in Europe can offer so much diversity within such sort 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. tourism: more diversity per m 2
19. Portugal is a unique destination: no other country in Europe can offer so much diversity within such sort 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. tourism: more diversity per m 2 People: what really matters 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. .
20. Portugal a friendly and reliable global partner 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 .
Notas del editor
When most people think of Portugal, they think of our history, of the great discoveries made many centuries ago by our maritime explorers. They think of an old country, steeped in tradition. But the Portugal I would like to show you now is none of these. It is a different country, it is the Portugal of today.
Do you know what NASA, ESA (the European Space Agency), Microsoft, Intel, Lockhead, Motorola and Siemens do to avoid critical situations in their computer systems? They rely on Critical Software , a Portuguese company that is a world leader in the development of software for critical computer systems, its leading client being NASA. Norte-Americana .
Did you know that Portugal is a point of reference when it comes to innovation in the moulding industry? Some of the most admired and widely consumed objects around the world are conceived, designed and moulded by Portuguese engineering. Samsonite, Nokia, and Mercedes are some of the brands whose reliability depends on Portuguese expertise. This leading world presence is made possible by companies like Iberomoldes, Simoldes, Planimolde and LN Moldes.
Did you know that 26 million Americans sleep on Portuguese sheets? And that Portugal is a European leader in household textile production and the third biggest exporter worldwide. All thanks to brands such as Lameirinho and JMA with their market-leading creativity, research and technology. We should also highlight brands in other areas of textiles such as woven fabrics which stand out for their quality and innovation; examples of companies now active in this area are Paulo de Oliveira, Arcotêxteis and Filobranca.
Did you know that 26 million Americans sleep on Portuguese sheets? And that Portugal is a European leader in household textile production and the third biggest exporter worldwide. All thanks to brands such as Lameirinho and JMA with their market-leading creativity, research and technology. We should also highlight brands in other areas of textiles such as woven fabrics which stand out for their quality and innovation; examples of companies now active in this area are Paulo de Oliveira, Arcotêxteis and Filobranca.
Ninety million people around the world prefer Portuguese shoes. Did you know that Portugal is a world leader in footwear technology? And that it is the third biggest exporter of shoes in Europe? Design, quality and creativity go a long way to explaining this success. We now have a brand which, because of its daring, innovative approach, is a major ambassador for Portuguese footwear: Fly London.
And also did you know that Microsoft’s X-box console uses Portuguese hardwareAnd that’s just one example. From hardware to software, companies such as Chipidea, Ydreams and Altitude exhibit Portuguese knowledge inventiveness and technology.
Did you know that Vista Alegre Atlantis is one of the 10 leading porcelain companies in the world? The picture shows the porcelain and silver service designed for Vista Alegre by the famous Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza. In Germany alone there are over 2,000 shops that sell this brand. Vista Alegre Atlantis is used at official receptions and banquets by royal families and presidents in over 80 countries.
Did you know that Vista Alegre Atlantis is one of the 10 leading porcelain companies in the world? The picture shows the porcelain and silver service designed for Vista Alegre by the famous Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza. In Germany alone there are over 2,000 shops that sell this brand. Vista Alegre Atlantis is used at official receptions and banquets by royal families and presidents in over 80 countries.
From ornamental rocks, such as our fantastic marbles, to stone, metals and ceramics, Portugal has brands that are used to build and decorate engineering works throughout the world. Recer, Revigrés, Vicaima, Poliface and Opca are just some of these world-leaders.
Portugal is a country with great wine-producing traditions. It is the country of Port wine and the first country in the world to designate a vine cultivation region. There are so many outstanding wines to choose from. And while we haven’t got time to mention them all, we would urge you to try them all. Their quality speaks for itself.
Nelo is one of the best kayak brands in the world. Both in Sydney and more recently in Athens they have won medals in the Olympic Games. Their design and manufacture are Portuguese and they have revolutionised competition at the highest level in this sport. But Portugal is not only a country of design, technology and innovation. It is also a country of sea, light and heat – a great place to live and a fantastic place to visit.
This is a country of today, a modern country with big brand names and a reputation for innovation. This is a country that makes a wonderful place to live or visit. This is a country that we want to share with you. Hopefully I have shown you that Portugal is so much more than you imagined. Hopefully I have shown you that Portugal is a place you want to get to know better. Thank you for your time.