"Porto is a magnet for investment". The words of Ricardo Valente, councilor for Economy, Tourism and Commerce Department at Porto City Hall, reflect the enthusiasm felt in the city, "a more competitive destination, better placed on the international radar not only of tourism but also of international investors". Ricardo Valente, who spoke during the first Meet Up - discussion sessions promoted by Iberian Property-, on September 25, gave the example of Natixis, who chose Porto to set up part of its IT services, in a race in which it competed with Madrid. "A small / medium-sized city to compete and win Madrid in attracting large companies," he said at the time.
"Cities need to go out and sell themselves"
The dynamics registered in recent years largely reflect the city's ability to “sell”. According to Albert Castro, representative of MIPIM, "cities need to go out and sell themselves. And this is not a necessity registered just in smaller cities. It is also a need for London, a leading city in attracting investment, and it needs to sell itself! It is a necessity of all cities!"
Besides the promotion of the destination of Porto, the City Hall keeps a "very strong bet" in the creation of new axes of attractiveness, namely in the eastern part of the city. Campanhã and Bonfim will benefit from the requalification and expansion of the Campanhã Intermodal platform and the conversion of the Antigo Matadouro do Porto, one financed by the City Hall and another by private investors, respectively. And it has been in this exchange of synergies between public and private that the city has grown, in a dynamic leveraged by tourism, supported by the acceleration of urban renewal.