Guarda was highlighted as a success model at the II Congress of the Portuguese Association of Business Parks (APPE), held on October 9th in Figueira da Foz. Under the theme “Capacity Building and Territorial Resilience for Economic Development”, the President of the Municipal Chamber of Guarda, Sérgio Costa, presented the municipality's economic development and territorial planning strategy.
In the panel “Success Story – Best Practices in the Management, Valorization, and Development of Business Parks”, Sérgio Costa titled his presentation “GUARDA – Portugal's Gateway to Europe”. The objective is to position the municipality as an attractive hub for business and industrial investment, focusing on the logistics, production, processing, energy, and agri-food sectors.
The mayor emphasized Guarda's strategic location in the center of the Iberian Peninsula and on the Atlantic Corridor of the trans-European transport network, with road and rail connections to Atlantic ports and Spain.
Key assets presented included the Guarda Logistics Platform (created in 2002 and fully occupied), the Dry Port (APDL) scheduled for inauguration on October 23rd, the TIR Park with over 150 spaces, planned expansion secured in the PDM with new investments already committed, the Renewable Energy Community of the Industrial Park with over 80 companies networked, and the focus on green hydrogen.
With the new Municipal Master Plan, Guarda has 1,011 hectares designated for economic activities, spread across five business areas: Arrifana, Vale de Estrela, Vale do Mondego, Parque Industrial, and Plataforma Logística, totaling approximately 10 km², exceeding the 3 to 8 km² foreseen by the Government for each new large business hosting area.
Sérgio Costa stated that Guarda is the location that generates the most value for the Country in terms of new Strategic Business Hosting Areas, supported by objective factors.
The congress also featured interventions from the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, the President of the Agency for PTRR, Luís Leite Ramos, and the President of CCDR Centro, José Ribau Esteves, who reaffirmed the commitment to empower the Country to meet the growing demand for large international investments.
The Municipality of Guarda believes these commitments validate its path, being prepared to respond to national and international demand with planning, available land, energy, multimodal connections, and a professional management structure through Guarda VIVA E.M.
