An annual survey released today by the European Investment Bank (EIB) regarding investment in Portugal indicates that “the net balance of companies expecting to increase investment in 2025 is at 16%, one of the highest in the EU and substantially above the European average of 4%”.
Following interviews conducted between April and July 2025 with 480 national companies, out of a total sample of 12,000 across the EU, the EIB notes that “Portuguese companies continue to demonstrate strong investment intentions and maintain a more optimistic outlook on the business environment in their sectors compared to the EU average”.
They are “investing more than the European average in innovation and making greater use of AI tools for internal processes,” and they are also “increasing investment in climate change-related issues compared to previous years, while diversifying import sources to address value chain disruptions,” the European credit institution outlines in the document available to Lusa.
The proportion of Portuguese companies that invested in the last financial year stands at 84%, a rate similar to 2024 (82%) and close to the EU average of 86%.
Cited in a press release, EIB Chief Economist Debora Revoltella notes that this survey “reveals that Portuguese companies have strong investment intentions and a positive outlook on the industry”.
“They are intensifying investment in climate action and investing more than the EU average in innovation, clearly demonstrating their commitment to competitiveness and the green transition,” the economist concludes.
On the other hand, “Portuguese companies are increasingly pessimistic about the global economic climate and the political/regulatory environment,” showing a more negative balance than the EU in this regard (-45% versus -30%), the EIB document states.
“Nevertheless, there is a net positive balance of companies believing that their sector’s business prospects will improve in the next 12 months (14%), a rate significantly above the EU average (0%). Companies in Portugal also show more optimism than the EU average regarding access to external (11% vs 1%) and internal financing (16% vs 9%),” it points out.
Regarding investment obstacles, the main barriers are the unavailability of skilled workers and uncertainty about the future, as well as business regulations and the labor market.
“In all these areas, the obstacles are greater than those faced by the average EU companies,” it is noted.
Regarding gender equality, Portuguese companies have one of the highest proportions of female representation in leadership positions in the EU, with 41% having at least 40% women in top management, a figure above the European average of 25%.
