How would you describe the people of Porto?

People from Porto are straightforward and say what they think. At the same time, they tend to be reserved and even conservative. It is not easy to enter their home or gain their trust. But once they accept someone, they reveal themselves to be extremely loyal and generous and are willing to follow them to the ends of the earth.

 

You never left the city of Porto…

I was born in Porto and have lived here all my life. I am someone from Porto who built his entire journey here. I really love this city and this region, and I still believe this is a land of opportunities.

 

“Today, Porto is a more cosmopolitan city, more open to the world and with a much more visible international presence.”

 

Having always lived in Porto, you have closely followed the city’s transformations over the last decades. How do you look at this evolution?

I see a different city, one that has evolved and, because of that, is much more open to the world. Porto has always had this international vocation, largely due to its industrial fabric and the need to look outward and towards export markets. We grew up with this influence, in contact with foreign families and realities such as international schools, which already existed, although on a much smaller scale than today. Nowadays, Porto is clearly a more cosmopolitan city, more open to the world and with a much more visible international presence. Even so, it maintains a strong cultural character, which has always been part of its identity.

 

What place does the city of Porto occupy in the national context?

Portugal looks at Porto with admiration and pride, although there is sometimes still some reluctance and difficulty from Lisbon in recognising the richness of the city. From an economic point of view, we are in the most industrialised region of the country. But this richness is not only economic. There is a strong social and family network in Porto. Families tend to maintain very close ties, creating a support structure that is particularly important in times of need. I believe that the historical connection to the Catholic Church has contributed to strengthening this capacity for social and community support. We have all the conditions to establish Porto and the North as a great region and a great city.

 

You hold a degree in Law from Porto Faculty of Law of Universidade Católica Portuguesa. What memories do you keep from your student years?

I keep excellent memories. It was a very remarkable experience, especially because of the friendships I built, and which remain to this day. It is an institution for which I have enormous affection and to which I remain deeply connected. It is impressive to see the way Católica has evolved. I particularly remember the academic social life, the parties and, above all, the contact with professors of great quality. I had exceptional lecturers, with whom I continued to maintain relationships throughout the years and who, outside the academic context, advised me, supported me and even developed some partnerships with me. Genuine discussion groups were created, in a very close and intellectually stimulating environment. I remember discussing the Iraq war with Professor Azeredo Lopes. I also remember the Christian Worldview classes, where very valuable lessons were shared about the way of looking at others and at life. Even so, there was enormous respect in the relationship between students and professors. There was no leniency, but there was great humanity and a strong sense of closeness.

 

What did you learn at Católica that you carry with you for life?

It was at Católica that I learned how to relate to others, to listen, to respect different perspectives and to understand each person’s motivations. Although I did not pursue a career in Law, the legal education gave me very useful tools that I apply daily. Even so, what marked me most was the human dimension of the education. Universidade Católica played an absolutely decisive role in my journey.

 

“A good idea does not always translate into a good business.”

 

What fascinated you about management and what continues to motivate you in this area?

Throughout my career, I have had a very diverse path. I have been connected to institutions such as the Commercial Association of Porto, created companies, done consultancy work and developed projects in very different areas. What always fascinated me was the possibility of creating: transforming ideas into businesses, generating wealth and creating jobs. What motivates me the most is precisely understanding whether an idea is viable, whether it responds to a real need and whether it has the potential to create value. A good idea does not always translate into a good business. I always felt I had that ability to distinguish what makes sense from what, although it may seem interesting, will hardly succeed. This practical vision of business was, from an early stage, what attracted me most to the business world.

 

From whom did you inherit this entrepreneurial spirit?

I believe this influence comes largely from my paternal grandfather. He was a very charismatic person, with a great strength of character. He had an enormous ability to assert his ideas and mobilise others, without ever losing his human and affectionate side.

 

“The younger generations want to participate, discuss ideas, create networks and contribute to defining the region’s strategy.”

 

You are President of the Board of the Commercial Association of Porto. How would you summarise the institution’s mission?

The Commercial Association of Porto is the oldest commercial association in the country. Our mission is to contribute to better public policies and to a more favourable economic environment for the development of companies and the region. This influence is exercised through the production of studies, the organisation of conferences and the creation of independent reflection on structural topics.
An example of this work is the “Portela + 1” study, developed in 2007 in collaboration with Universidade Católica Portuguesa. This study ended up influencing the public debate and the decisions that were later taken. At the same time, we work daily to support our members, promoting business opportunities, establishing relationships with international chambers of commerce and creating conditions for companies in the region to expand and conquer new markets.

 

What is the biggest challenge of leading the Commercial Association of Porto?

The main challenge is being able to continuously present innovative and useful initiatives for our members, showing that the Commercial Association of Porto is a dynamic, active and relevant institution. The association brings together a great diversity of profiles, from micro-enterprises to large business groups, which is an enormous richness. In recent years, we have witnessed a significant entry of new members, most of them young. This shows that the younger generations want to participate, discuss ideas, create networks and contribute to defining the region’s strategy.

 

There is a lot of discussion about the impact of tourism on cities. How do you look at the case of Porto?

In the case of Porto, I believe there was an initial phase in which it was necessary to establish the Porto and Northern Portugal brands. It made sense to have a broad approach because it was important to consolidate the destination. This allowed very relevant sub-destinations to establish themselves, such as the Douro, Minho and Trás-os-Montes, which complement the experience of those visiting the city. At this moment, I think we should invest more in the quality of tourism in order to attract visitors with greater purchasing power and greater economic impact. The challenge now is to qualify this growth in tourism: improving the hotel offer, cultural content and the visitor’s overall experience.
There is an important opportunity for economic transformation: many visitors end up returning or even investing, whether in housing, hotels or businesses.

 

Since Porto is a city of opportunities, as you mentioned, what is missing to strengthen this vocation?

First and foremost, a culture that is more open to investment at the level of central government is essential. Many projects become blocked due to lack of decision-making and excessively slow administrative processes. As long as we continue with this level of bureaucracy, time is lost, opportunities are lost, and it becomes very difficult to attract investment and create wealth at the desired pace. We need a more agile model of state operation, one that allows the regions greater capacity for decision-making and management.