Caixa Geral de Depósitos CEO Paulo Macedo stressed in Porto the need for Europe—and Portugal in particular—to adapt to a turbulent and uncertain global landscape. Tariffs, trade imbalances, and strategic shifts from major powers like the US are now part of the “new certainty,” he noted, highlighting that geopolitical and economic pressures must be met with proactive strategies.
For Portugal, Macedo emphasized three priorities:
- Attract more large companies – not necessarily global giants like Nvidia, but firms that can scale, boost GDP, and strengthen the real economy.
- Increase productivity and talent development – making Portugal a hub for skilled professionals.
- Encourage foreign investment – to fuel growth in a competitive European environment.
Macedo argued that Europe must avoid over-specializing in regulation at the cost of competitiveness, and that the country’s success depends on combining scale, talent, and openness to capital.
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