Hong Kong is a prime market for attracting investment into Portugal under the newly overhauled Golden Visa scheme, which came into effect this year with fresh opportunities up for grabs, business representatives stressed at an investment session held on Wednesday at Club Lusitano in the neighbouring SAR.
The “Portugal: An Investment Opportunity” seminar, organised by the Macau delegation of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILC-M), brought together service providers and experts who made the case for the Southern European country as a highly valued investment destination.
Portugal’s Golden Visa programme, first introduced in 2012, no longer accepts real estate purchases or real estate-related funds as qualifying options. However, it now welcomes fund investment, cultural donations, and job creation as eligible pathways for applying for a scheme that paves the way to a residency permit and, potentially, citizenship.
“In recent years, many foreign investors and professionals have discovered Portugal as an attractive investment destination, where they can find a welcoming population, excellent value for money, and a favourable climate,” noted Carlos Cid Álvares, president of CCILC Macau. He added that the new Golden Visa scheme remains highly attractive for investors around the world, with Hong Kong being a key source market. “During this session, we provided a broad picture of the legal framework, products, and opportunities for the Hong Kong-based investment community.”
One of the speakers was Tirso Olazabal, a Hong Kong-based partner at MdME Law firm, who told MNA on the sidelines of his presentation that “Hong Kong investors have long focused on non–real estate–based investment in Portugal.” He added that “the Hong Kong market is sophisticated, and its investors are well-seasoned and well-informed. That’s why this market is highly receptive to these investment vehicles.”
In his presentation, Tirso Olazabal detailed the new system’s legal framework and its focus on collective investment undertakings. While noting that investment funds have seen significant expansion over the past couple of years, the business law expert stressed that the new Golden Visa scheme still “offers a very attractive return on investment.”
Among the many options is investment in agriculture. That was the focus of the presentation by Diogo Garcês Reis, Managing Director of Terra Nova Fund. “We prioritise state-of-the-art technology and the capacity to scale responsibly, using resources efficiently while ensuring economic and financial sustainability,” he told MNA, adding that “this is a great time to invest in Portugal.” The country “offers the right conditions—temperature, soil, access to water—and still has many properties with strong development potential.”
Another speaker at the event was Sónia Mendes, Head of Investment Advisory at Caixa Gestão de Activos, under Portugal’s leading banking group CGD. She focused on why to invest in Portugal and on the CGD Open-Ended Alternative Investment Fund.
In Macau News Agency