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EU MEMBERS > Portugal
Portugal business environment
Doing business in Portugal
KEY FACTS

Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past two decades, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. (CIA World Factbook)

Currency: EUR
Key exchange rates:
Interest rate: 2%
Current inflation: 2.9%
Inflation target: 2%
Tax rate: 20%

Major Portuguese owned companies:

EDP
EDP is the largest electricity company in Portugal. They aim to generate well being and increase quality of life and of the environment, promoting optimism and social dynamism.
Portugal Telecom
Portugal Telecom is a global telecommunications operator. It is the national leader in every sector where it operates.

FIRST STOP
Banking
Bank of Portugal
The Banco de Portugal, the central bank of the Portuguese Republic, was established under a royal decree issued on November 19th, 1846, and was the result of a merger of the Banco de Lisboa, the first Portuguese bank founded in 1821, and the Companhia de Confiança Nacional, an investment company specialised in the financing of the public debt.
Caixa Geral de Depositos
As a leading financial institution in Portugal, Caixa Geral de Depósitos has been distinguished both at national and international scope. Although operating as a universal bank, CGD is also fully involved in specialised financial services, providing customers with a full service international group.
Legal
A.M. Pereira, Sáragga Leal, Oliveira Martins, Júdice e Associados
PLMJ is a full service law firm with a dynamic team of professionals and a history of exceptional quality and personal service in the constant pursuit for excellence. At present, PLMJ has 37 partners and 42 senior associates out of a total of more than 200 qualified lawyers, as well as a large number of trainees and paralegals.
Dr. Ronald Charles Wolf
Dr. Ronald Charles Wolf and Marilyn Wolf law offices offer more than 35 years of international law experience in Lisbon, Portugal, and render a personalized, highly individualized service in all areas of international private, civil and commercial law. Client confidentiality and problem resolution with a dedicated work schedule are the hallmarks of the firm.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW
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EU MEMBER FOCUS
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Portugal
Portugal flag
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Portugal map
MAP
Capital: Lisbon
Official languages: Portuguese
Government: republic; parliamentary democracy
EU accession: 1986
Area: 92,345 km2
Population: 10,676,910 (July 2008 est.)
Internet TLD: .pt
Calling code: +351
EUROCHAMBRES
Eurochambres, the European Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, is one of the key representatives of business to the European institutions. It voices the interests of over 19 million member enterprises in 45 European countries through a network of 2000 regional and local Chambers represented by 45 national - and one transnational - organisations. More than 90% of these enterprises are small or medium enterprises, with chamber members employing over 120 million employees.

Eurochambres is the sole European body to serve the interests of every sector and size of European business - due to the multi-sectoral membership of Chambers - and the only one so close to business, as a result of the Chambers’ regional focus.
http://www.eurochambres.eu
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN Portugal