Worldway Comprehensive News: According to the Portuguese newspaper "Publico", in 2014, China's investment in Portugal was approximately 2 billion USD (about 1.839 billion Euros), accounting for 1.06% of Portugal's GDP. During the same period, China's investments in the United Kingdom, Italy, and the Netherlands were 4.69 billion, 3.22 billion, and 2.11 billion Euros, respectively, accounting for 0.19%, 0.2%, and 0.32% of those countries' GDPs. China's investment in Portugal represents the highest proportion of GDP in all of Europe. Portugal has become a continuously popular investment destination for Chinese investors, significantly boosting the country's real estate immigration trend.
【China-Portugal "Belt and Road Initiative"】
In 2014, the largest transaction of China's investment in Portugal was Fosun Group's acquisition of Fidelidade Insurance for 1.7 billion Euros. In October of last year, Fosun Group acquired Espírito Santo Health Group for 460 million Euros through Fidelidade Insurance. In December, China Haitong Securities fully acquired Espírito Santo Investment Bank for 380 million Euros.
Reports indicate that the pace of Chinese investment in Portugal is gradually accelerating. This year, Novo Banco is in the bidding stage, and it is believed that Fosun Group or Anbang Insurance Group has the highest chance of success. If either Fosun or Anbang successfully acquires Novo Banco, the transaction amount will not be less than 4 billion Euros, setting a new record for Chinese investment in Portugal.
【Golden Residence Visa Data】
Chinese individual investors have shown a strong appetite for Portuguese real estate, especially since Portugal launched the "Golden Residence Visa" in 2012 (granting residency to investors who invest 500,000 Euros in Portuguese real estate). As of the latest official data on March 31, 2015, a total of 2,290 individuals have successfully obtained the Portuguese Golden Visa, with a total investment amount exceeding 1.39 billion Euros. Among them, the number of individuals who obtained residency through property purchases is 2,166 (approximately 95% of the total), with an investment amount of about 1.25 billion Euros, primarily from Chinese buyers, totaling 1,840. The data shows that Portuguese real estate immigration is particularly favored by Chinese investors.
As a high-value project for individual investment immigration, the Portuguese real estate immigration program is recognized in the industry for its investment price advantage, lower application threshold, ease of obtaining citizenship, ability to work locally, and the option to bring both spouses' parents to benefit the entire family. Worldway's immigration experts state that the Portuguese real estate immigration program is the first of its kind with such an open immigration policy among EU member states and Western countries. With the arrival of the investment boom in Portugal, this is an unprecedented opportunity, and investors are advised not to miss this excellent investment timing.
