Regions of Portugal - Alentejo

Area
Why Alentejo?
Alentejo has the largest land area in mainland Portugal 31,605.2 km2 (1/3 of the national territory),
with an international land border of 432 km and a coastline of 179 km

Area (km2): 31,604.9

Inhab/Km2: 23.7

Population (N.): 749,055 (2010)

Alentejos landscape is characterized by soft granite hills in the north-east and open rolling plains
with an average altitude of around 200 metres, in the south

It is crossed by three major watersheds - Tagus, Guadiana and Sado rivers and in the north-east
the city of vora is located

vora city is the main urban centre in terms of population and economic/social activity in the
Alentejo. In 1986, vora was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site

There are significant developments in infrastructures: logistics and transport equipment

1 Maritime Port (Sines)
836 km of railway network
Electrified rail network: 342 km Double rail network: 87 km

1 Airport (Beja) 2 Aerodromes (vora, Ferreira do Alentejo)

ZILS Sines Logistics Hub

Beja Airport is a connection platform, logistic hub and a potencial instigator of new economic
activities

Sines Port and its industrial support and logistic zone are already recognized worldwide as a logistic
platform, able to receive the main players, maritime, industrial and logistic sectors
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 Alentejo (NUT II) covers 6 Districts: Portalegre, vora, Beja, and part of Lisbon, Setbal and
Santarm districts. For statistical purposes this Region is divided into 5 NUT III, with diferent characteristics: Alentejo Litoral Alto Alentejo Alentejo Central Baixo Alentejo Lezria do Tejo

The preservation of the landscape and coastline, combined with a rich architectural heritage,
Alentejo has a strong potencial for tourism development. Alentejo Litoral and Alqueva are attracting major investments in tourism infrastructures

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People
Why Alentejo? Population
Alentejo is the Portuguese region with the lowest population density (23.7 inhab./km2) although very
concentrated

Resident population on 31.12.2010: 749,000 inhabitants (7% of total population and a 0.3%
increase in 10 years). Projections (Eurostat) for 2025: 775,000 inhabitants

The demographic structure of the region is characterized by its high rate of elderly people (+65
years old), although following the national trend. In Alentejo this proportion is above the national average (23% versus 18.2% in 2010)
Resident Population according to Age Groups
60,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 20,0 10,0 0,0 2006 0 - 14 years Source: INE 2007 15 - 24 years 2008 25 - 64 years 2009 65 years and over 2010 13,4 11,1 23,0 13,3 10,4 13,3 10,1 23,1 13,3 9,9 23,1 52,7 53,0 53,3 53,5 53,7

22,9 13,3 10,7

23,0

Education
In the school year 2010/2011, students enrolled in primary and secondary education accounted for
6.3% and 6.5% of the national total, respectively

Between the school year 2006/2007 and 2010/2011 the number of students that enrolled in higher
education increased by 5.4%

Alentejo has the 2nd highest attainment rate in secondary education in Portugal (154.4%), above the
national average (146.2%)
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Students enrolled according to educational level / Number of students graduated

150.000 4.595 125.000 100.000 78.534 75.000 72.765 23.086 50.000 25.000 0 2006/2007 Primary Education Sources: GEPE, MEC 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 Higher Education 2010/2011 Graduated students Secondary Education 84.706 4.227 3.496 3.185 71.491 35.484 68.871 3.000 20.527 18.410 4.000 5.000

22.697

17.467

17.981

17.214

21.228

17.714

2.000

1.000

In the 20 higher education institutions, located in Alentejo, the number of students that enrolled
exceeded 18,000 and the graduates were more than 2,899 (3.7% of national total). The areas of Business Studies (Management / Economics / Accounting), Health and Engineering and Mathematics were chosen, respectively, by 15.5%, 11% and 6.9% of the enrolled students. Graduates in these same areas represented, respectively, 14.1%, 15.7% and 3.5% of total

In Alentejo, about 22% of students enrolled in higher education have chosen S&T areas

Labour activity /Employment

Active population in 2011: 374,000 individuals (6.7% of total) Employed population (2011): 328,000 individuals (6.8% of total) With an employment rate near the national average (50.6% versus 53.5%), Alentejo has an activity
rate of 57.7% amongst individuals aged 15 years or more

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Active Population / Employment

500 450 400 350 300 369 250 374 200 150 100 366 368 374 6,0 5,0 4,0 328 3,0 2,0 6,6 6,4 6,5 6,6 6,8 8,0 7,0

343

333

329

2007

2008 Active Population

2009 Employed Population

2010

327

2011

Employment (% of total)

Source: INE - Employment Statistics

Knowledge
About half of the population between 16 and 74 years old use computers and 40% have Internet
access
Information Society - Computer and Internet Access, 2010
70,0 59,5 60,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 20,0 10,0 0,0 Households Individuals 16-74 years Computer Alentejo Portugal Households Individuals 16-74 years Internet 47,1 49,0 43,7 44,2 55,4 53,7 51,1

Source: INE/Survey on Information and Communication Technologies usage in private households, 2010

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Economy
Alentejo Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010: 11,027 million (6.4% of national GDP and 1%
increase compared to the previous year)

GDP per capita: 14.7 thousand in 2010 (91 - index Portugal=100 and 73 index EU27=100)
GDP per inhabitant in PPP (UE27=100)
85 Portugal Alentejo 80

75

70

65 2001 Source: INE 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010P

P= Provisional data

Annual average growth rate of GDP (2001-2010): 2.2% (national average in the same period: 2.8%)

GVA Breakdown - 2010

Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 9,3% Industry (energy and construction) 24,5%

Employment Breakdown - 2010

Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 10,9% Industry (energy and construction) 23,5%

Services 66,2%

Services 65,5%

Source: INE
Source: INE

Turnover generated in 2009: 12,994 million (3,452 million in the Manufacturing industry) which
represented 3.9% and 5% of national and manufacturing turnover, respectively

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 Agriculture has a significant role in the productive structure of the Alentejo. This region produces
high quality goods that are recognized both at national and international level

The mining industry, in terms of volume and value, as well as the cork industry, contributes
significantly to regional GDP (Alentejo has one of the richest polymetallic sulphide reserves in the World)

Alentejo has important renewable energy resources including solar (one of the largest photovoltaic
power plants in the world is located in Moura, Alentejo), biomass and biofuels

Sines Port and its Logistic Zone (ZALSINES) have a strategic importance for the regional and
national economic development

The water reserve provided by the Alqueva dam and the various aspects associated with it (water
supply, agriculture, industry and tourism) contributes to the diversification of the regional economic activity

Strategic economic areas: aerospace cluster with EMBRAER Project in vora Balance of trade surplus, registering a 21% export growth in 2011 (4% of total Portuguese exports)
Trade Balance
3.000 2.500 2.304 2.191 2.165 2.031 2.035 2.000 Million 1.500 1.000 156 164 500 0 2007 Source: INE (declared values) 2008 2009 273 453 2011P Exports Imports Balance +21% 2.622 1.699 1.682 17 2010P
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4% to tal exp.

P= Preliminary data (2010-2011)

Five major clients: Spain, Germany, France, Netherlands and Finland More than 70% of total exports are industrial and food products (significant weight of Sines Port
operations)

2.001

2.169

Internacional Trade - Main Products, 2010P

600.000 500.000 400.000 Thousand 300.000 200.000 100.000 0 Minerals and mineral products Source: INE (declared values) Plastics and rubber Chemicals Machinery and tools Food Products Agricultural products Base metals

526.650

Exports Imports

305.366

325.470

143.164

275.740

253.908

246.276

234.533

100.697

103.156

108.402

132.983

P= Preliminary data

Proportion of exports of high technology goods in 2011: 2.8%, with emphasis on the sub-region of
Alentejo Central (14.9%)

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72.840

126.367

Companies
More than 65,000 companies are located in Alentejo. These companies generate a turnover near
13 billion and have more than 170,000 employees
Business Enterprises - Number of companies and R&D Personnel, 2009
75.347 21.480 32.927 170.962 33.929 6.312 4.497 65.412

R&D Personnel (n.) Alentejo

Services Construction Manufacturing Total

Business Enterprises (N.)

1.596.929 R&D Personnel (n.) Portugal 472.730 718.507 3.717.920 514.326 107.536 74.234 1.060.906 Source: INE

Business Enterprises (N.)

The manufacturing industry is represented by more than 4,000 companies, which generate a
turnover around 3.5 billion and have approximately 33,000 employees. The most representative industries are the following: Food industry (41% of total Manufacturing Industry turnover), Chemicals (16%), Metal products (6%), Beverages (5.9%) and Non-Metallic Minerals (5.6%)
Business Enterprises - Turnover and GVA, 2009
840 177 332 1.967 6.960 902 3.452 12.944 38.964 9.501 16.715 82.736 185.085 Turnover (M) 34.581 70.630 335.887 Source: INE
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GVA (M) Alentejo

Services Construction Manufacturing Total

Turnover (M)

GVA (M) Portugal

 Number of exporting companies in 2010: 827 (4.7% of total) Alentejo has 145 Research Institutions (R&D Centres) with international recognition
Business Companies - R&D Personnel (Thousand)
Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal 237 6.133 Source: INE 279 9.459 320 12.784 651 14.510 262 13.922

Business Enterprises - R&D Expenditure (Thousand)

Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal 19.434 462.015 Source: INE 27.362 736.402 35.289 1.010.790 64.992 1.295.099 27.439 1.311.070

R&D personnel hired by companies, between 2005 and 2009, increased 10.5% and spending in
R&D increased almost 40%

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

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