Financial Times names Porto best European city for attracting investment
For four consecutive years, Porto has been one of the "European Cities of the Future" chosen by the Financial Times. Invicta outperforms cities like Antwerp, Glasgow, Leeds and Düsseldorf.
Porto has once again been honoured by the Financial Times as the best European city of the future in terms of its strategy for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), in the category of FDI Strategy – Large Cities.
“It is with a deep and sustained sense of achievement that Porto once again receives this illustrious distinction, proof of the city’s ability to develop an investment promotion strategy that consistently remains one of the most successful in Europe”, said Rui Moreira, mayor of Porto, quoted in a statement.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Porto has been ranked among the European Cities of the Future. “In the 2025 edition, the municipality’s investment attraction policy surpassed that of Antwerp (Belgium), Glasgow (Scotland), Leeds (United Kingdom), Düsseldorf (Germany) or Turin (Italy)”, emphasises Porto City Council.
Rui Moreira says that the city “is proud to receive an award that proves and gives continuity to its historic status as a centre of initiative and development”.
The distinction, awarded annually by fDi Intelligence, honours the strategy of European cities and regions, assessing the results over the last year and the policies in place to achieve them. fDi Intelligence considered Porto “an important hub for talent in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as an emerging centre for innovative digital business in Europe”.
InvestPorto has already attracted more than two billion euros and 28,000 jobs
fDi Intelligence adds that the economic development strategy promoted by InvestPorto, the municipal division specialised in attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment projects, has contributed to this recognition. Its support for companies has already resulted in investment of over two billion euros and the creation of nearly 28,000 local jobs.
“The jury was also impressed by municipal actions to support local startups, such as ScaleUp Porto, and did not fail to mention the fact that the city has also attracted the opening of a World Health Organisation office, with a focus on technology, robotics and entrepreneurship in health, which will help put Portugal at the forefront of technological innovation in health services”, reads the same press release from the municipality led by Rui Moreira.
The “fDi European Cities and Regions of the Future” awards ceremony will take place on 11 March in Cannes, France, during MIPIM, one of Europe’s largest property investment fairs, where the municipalities of Matosinhos, Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia will be present together for the first time through the Greater Porto initiative.
