The Prime Minister, in an interview with Diário de Notícias on December 29, stated, “We need to recruit more human resources from abroad in the medium term.” He further emphasized the importance of “raising awareness about the need for the country to open its mindset to a new era, encouraging progress in living conditions, professional activities, and the pursuit of better careers and quality of life.”
The Prime Minister considers immigration essential for Portugal’s development: “We fundamentally need immigration because we are suffering from a significant drop in birth rates. Over the next 30 or 40 years, this will be an absolutely insurmountable problem because we cannot achieve the necessary population replacement day after day.”
He added, “Ideally, we should clearly understand the profiles of the people we need and be able to attract them. The way this is done should not, in any way, provoke xenophobia.”
When discussing the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the Prime Minister acknowledged that many projects are facing implementation challenges due to a lack of human resources. “We need thousands of workers in the construction sector to fill existing gaps, which is crucial for advancing PRR projects.” He called for the creation of more targeted immigration policies to attract talent aligned with the country’s economic needs. “Although we have adopted stricter regulatory pathways, it is possible to establish connections between people needed for specific activities and companies that can guarantee employment and housing conditions—essential elements in this process.”
When discussing immigration, the Prime Minister offered a distinctive perspective: “We must focus on those who seek us out, settle here, work here, and bring or create their families in Portugal. They are, in practice, the new Portuguese.” He emphasized that immigrant integration is not only an economic necessity but also a pillar for the country’s social sustainability.
Although many immigrants choose seasonal work and return to their countries of origin, the Prime Minister highlighted that a significant number wish to settle permanently in Portugal. To attract more immigrants who meet the nation’s needs, he proposed that companies play a crucial role by ensuring employment and housing conditions that facilitate long-term integration.
“Investment” as the Economic Motto for 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, the Prime Minister reiterated that “investment, investment, investment” will be the motto for Portugal’s future development. While public investment is progressing well, he stressed that private investment and foreign direct investment (FDI) are equally vital. To achieve this, the government is working on creating conditions that make Portugal more attractive to investors, including:
Tax reductions; Simplification of licensing and administrative processes; Improvements in recruitment conditions; Promotion of scientific and technological innovation to support businesses.
He emphasized, “Portugal enjoys political stability, financial stability, and a safe environment—key factors for attracting international investors.”
When asked about the possibility of creating a new regime similar to the Golden Visa, the Prime Minister revealed that the government is evaluating even more attractive measures. “Our ‘Accelerating the Economy’ program already includes a wide range of investment incentives, but we are willing to go further, especially to attract large companies and strategic projects.” These new measures will focus on enhancing companies’ productive capacity, promoting innovation, and strengthening international strategic partnerships.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence in the country’s future. He acknowledged that while challenges faced by trade partners such as Germany may impact Portugal to some extent, he stressed, “We don’t have the same problems, which makes us even more attractive.”