SECURITY / TOLERANCE

Portugal Segurança e Toletância
"Anywhere in the world, the human being needs freedom and safety to achieve their full potential."
 
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese political activist, Nobel Peace Prize 1991
 
With its low rates of crime, violence and threats related to terrorism, Portugal is among the safest countries not only in Europe but also in the world. Especially by immigrants from countries with a more troubled reality, this becomes a decisive factor in choosing Portugal as a country to live in.
 
Portugal is a democratic regime since 1974, which made it possible, from that time, the creation of a more pluralistic, open and tolerant society.
Another innovation resulting from the establishment of democracy was the secularization of the State, along with a greater receptivity to the reception of foreign peoples, contributing to a greater religious tolerance and, more than that, to open the dialogue between religions. The Religious Freedom Act has, since 2001, strengthened the assurance that all cults, creeds and beliefs are respected.
 
The fight against all forms of discrimination and the promotion of inclusion are frequent topics on the agenda and that discussion has borne fruit: for example, in 2010 the Parliament allowed access to civil same-sex marriage.
 
 

Art / Culture / Leisure

Portugal Arte, Cultura e Lazer

"The Portuguese people are essentially cosmopolitan. Never a true Portuguese was Portuguese: he was always everything."
 
Fernando Pessoa
 
 
The cultural wealth of a people is the mirror of its identity and, with a history marked by triumphs, Portugal has managed to maintain a well-creased individuality.
Imposing monuments extend throughout the country, with 15 sites recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO. It is mandatory to visit some historical villages like Óbidos or Monsaraz, follow the wine route along the Douro River and unravel the mysteries that are hidden in the town of Sintra. Lovers of surfing and other activities related to the sea will find a wide and inviting coastline.
 
Abroad, Portugal has some important symbols: football, with ambassadors Cristiano Ronaldo and José Mourinho, the gastronomic wealth, with wine and olive oil to impress the most demanding and fado (Intangible Heritage of UNESCO since 2011) which Amália took to its peak.
 
But not only of tradition and history lives Portugal. The main cities, Lisbon and Porto, are much sought after for its cosmopolitanism, excellent restaurants, the active night life and the bubbling cultural life. Every day there are concerts, shows and exhibitions available, both in major museums and in small art galleries. Festivals and events related to all areas of the Arts help make up an eclectic and relevant programming.
For the more adventurous artists, there are residential programs aimed at designers, and an inspiring country awaits you.

 


Climate / Natural Heritage / Demography

Portugal Clima, Património Natural, Demografia

 
It is common knowledge that the sun brings happiness. The approximately 300 days of sunshine that inundate Portugal every year help explain the country's success as a tourist destination. For an extended stay there are stronger purposes, such as the search for better living conditions and work. The quality of leisure time turns out, however and increasingly, a factor taken into account.
Paradisiacal beaches, inviting terraces and a natural heritage rich are just some of the charms that Portugal has to offer.
The seven natural wonders of Portugal, were recently elected, namely: the Laurissilva Forest on the island of Madeira, the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the Caves of Mira de Aire, the Lagoa das Sete Cidades, Portinho da Arrábida, the Formosa River and the Volcanic Landscape of Pico. It is worth admiring them and still discover many others.
 
Friendly, attentive, laid-back, creative, and welcoming: this is how the Portuguese are seen by foreigners living in the country.
The population in Portugal is of 10,562,178, including about 401,000 immigrants. This corresponds to 3.8% of the population, largely at working age and contributing to the increase of the country's birth rate. The profile of immigrants has been changing in recent years with the increase in students coming.
 
On the other hand, there was an increase in the number of descendants of immigrants born in Portugal who have acquired Portuguese nationality. This condition was only possible thanks to changes in the Nationality Law, carried out in 2006, which facilitated access to national citizenship. The Portuguese legal framework is now recognized internationally as an example in the integration of immigrants.
 
Portugal sees migration as part of an economic recovery and growth strategy. Through talent management and encouraging mobility, the country strengthens and promotes the contribution of migrants, in order to make Portugal a more competitive and tolerant country.

 


Education/ Research / Investment

Porugal Ensino, Investigação e Investimento

Despite a limited geographical size and the strong impact of the international economic crisis, Portugal has been able to reinvent itself. To unemployment, the Portuguese respond with the creation of their own business.

Government strategic programs are betting on highly qualified human capital and supporting entrepreneurship.

There are about 90 incubators of new enterprises distributed across the country and the State has support services assigned to this universe of initiatives, as well as tax incentives (including 0% of Corporate Tax for Start-Ups at least during the first three years of business).

Many are surprised when they learn the indicators for innovation and technology in Portugal, but is certainly a source of pride.

The latest study by the World Economic Forum shows that Portugal occupies the 5th place in the speed of starting a business and the 10th in the ease of the procedures necessary to do so. The same study puts Portugal in 2nd place in the quality of road infrastructure, in 11th place on the availability of the most advanced technologies in 8th in the availability of scientists and engineers and still 4th in the quality of business schools. That concerns a universe that covers 144 countries!

Higher education in Portugal occupies the 22nd place in a study by the international network “Universitas 21”. One of the differentiating factors relates specifically to international connectivity. Portugal is the 9th most popular country in the European exchange program Erasmus, for example.

Support for scientific research, particularly through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) aims to make Portugal an international benchmark in science, technology and innovation.

 


Why Portugal?

Once the starting point for the globe discovered by uncharted waters, Portugal maintains its nature of a country facing the rest of the world.
Rightly designated as the west Lusitanian beach by Luís Vaz de Camões in the great Portuguese epic "Os Lusíadas", Portugal enjoys a close relationship with the sea, which is the result of a 963 km long coastline washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Here we find the insular Portugal: the beautiful autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores.
Magnificent beaches, professional and leisure activities related to the sea, and always fresh fish, varied and cooked wisely are just some of the offers that this privileged position provides to those who choose to live in Portugal.
Despite the fact that the Mediterranean waters do not bathe the country, their influence is especially evident in climate and food, and the olive oil and wine are some of the products considered representative of Portugal worldwide.

Portuguese is the 5th most spoken language in the world with about 240 million speakers. It was thanks to the Age of Discoveries that the language was vastly diffused and reached every continent. It was the beginning of the Portuguese diaspora in the 15th century, which remains to this day with the adventurous Portuguese spirit to lead his people seeking new ways across borders.
At the same time, the Portuguese are well known for hosting the "foreigners", seeking, through this contact, their own evolution. That is one of the reasons why Portugal is deemed the second country with better integration capacity of immigrants by MIPEX (Migrant Integration Policy Index), immediately after Sweden, out of 31 countries. In this study, Portugal leads the ranking with regard to family reunification and access to the labor market. Also in the Human Development Report of the United Nations (2009) Portugal stands out with the best legislation for human rights and protection of immigrants in the European Union.
Whether it is for the safety that one feels, or for the cost of life and the pleasant climate, Portugal is sought today by people from all over the globe.
With borders established since the 12th century, this is a country full of tradition, historical monuments to visit, rustic towns and rural areas where time seems to have stopped. However, the country does not cease to have one foot in the future that is reflected in the cosmopolitanism of major cities or in the training of its human resources, for example. It is these contrasts that make this a unique country that is worth knowing and living in over time.

 


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