Worldway Lisbon News: On March 31, Portugal announced its accession to the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (hereinafter referred to as "AIIB"). The weakness of the Euro has prompted large-scale Chinese investments in Europe. For many European countries eager to join the AIIB, the positive impact of Chinese investment will continue to last.
Since the implementation of quantitative easing in Europe, China has consistently adhered to a prudent Renminbi policy. Within just one year, the Renminbi's exchange rate against the Euro has risen by approximately 25%. This trend seems likely to continue this year, and the ongoing decline of the Euro presents a once-in-a-lifetime historical opportunity for businesses and individual investors looking to invest in Europe.
EU observers state, "Before the financial crisis, China had already increased its investment efforts. Between 2004 and 2008, China's average annual investment in Europe was less than 1 billion USD, but from 2009 to 2010, the investment amount surged to 3 billion USD, doubling. During the economic crisis in the Eurozone, Chinese investment doubled again, reaching 10 billion USD in 2011. Last year, Chinese investment in Europe reached an unprecedented 18 billion USD."
According to statistics, from 2000 to the present, Portugal has attracted 6.15 billion Euros in investment from China. The first major investment occurred in 2011 when China Three Gorges Corporation successfully acquired 21.35% of the shares of the Portuguese Electricity Company for 2.69 billion Euros, becoming the largest shareholder. Just a few months later, State Grid Corporation of China invested 387 million Euros to acquire 25% of the shares of the Portuguese Grid Company. Meanwhile, Fosun International won 80% of the shares of the largest insurance group in Portugal, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, in a bidding process for 1 billion Euros. Two years later, Beijing Enterprises Water Group invested over 95 million Euros to successfully acquire the Portuguese water company under Veolia Water.
In addition, individual Chinese investors have shown great appetite for property investment immigration in Portugal, especially since Portugal launched the "Golden Residence Permit" in 2012 (granting residency to investors who invest 500,000 Euros in real estate). As of the end of February 2015, a total of 2,203 investors had been approved for the Portuguese "Golden Residence Card," of which 1,777 were Chinese investors.
As the first immigration agency in China to introduce the "Portuguese Golden Residence" property investment immigration, Worldway is the only Chinese immigration agency with an independent branch in Portugal. It has successfully assisted hundreds of Chinese investors in completing their investments in Portugal and obtaining the Golden Residence Card. Its Portuguese branch is located on the bustling Avenida da Liberdade in downtown Lisbon, making it the preferred legal immigration agency for investment immigrants.
