Portimão distinguishes SME Leader and Excellence companies in the municipality

Portimão City Council publicly recognized the companies in the municipality distinguished with the PME Líder and PME Excelência statuses, awarded in 2023 by IAPMEI – Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation and Turismo de Portugal , in a ceremony held on Monday, June 23.

Promoted for the first time by the municipality, this initiative aimed to value the merit, resilience and excellence of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Portimão, which the municipality considers fundamental to the dynamism of the local and national economy.

The PME Líder and PME Excelência distinctions are awarded to leading companies, recognized for their financial solidity, capacity for innovation and good management practices.

These quality seals reinforce the competitiveness of companies in the market, and are therefore a recognition that the municipality of Portimão felt was important to highlight publicly.

In 2023, 61 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises from Portimão were awarded the PME Líder status, representing different sectors of activity, such as tourism, industry, commerce, services, construction, transport and health.

Of these, 31 also achieved PME Excelência status, a distinction reserved for companies with excellent economic and financial performance.

The awards ceremony was attended by Álvaro Bila, Mayor of Portimão; Catarina Paiva, Director of Turismo de Portugal; and Nuno Gonçalves, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of IAPMEI.

Also present were members of the municipal executive, the presidents of the Parish Councils of Portimão, Mexilhoeira Grande and Alvor – respectively Maria da Luz Santana, José Vitorino and Francisco Correia, as well as José Apolinário, president of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR).

In a message addressed to this strong group of local entrepreneurs, Álvaro Bila praised the contribution that the award-winning entrepreneurs have made to the economic growth of Portimão and to the recognition of the municipality at various levels on the national scene.

“This distinction is a reflection of consistent work, an entrepreneurial vision and resilience, but above all a commitment to quality and innovation. As Mayor of Portimão, I feel proud of the dynamism of our municipality,” he said.

«Portimão's companies contribute greatly to the economy, creating jobs and wealth, and so we must thank them for what they do for the municipality. And it is with great satisfaction and pride that we gather at this municipal recognition ceremony dedicated to honoring local companies that have achieved the status of PME Líder and PME Excelência 2023».

The mayor also stressed that this recognition should be seen not only as a source of pride, but also as an incentive for entrepreneurs to continue committed to being a reference and an example in society.

Finally, he assured that “the City Council will continue to support the business community, creating conditions for investment, innovation and sustained growth to flourish in this territory. We are with you and we are committed to working side by side for a more prosperous, fair and sustainable future for all”, assured Álvaro Bila.

Also present at this session, José Apolinário, president of the CCDR of the Algarve, reinforced Álvaro Bila's statements by highlighting the importance of the municipality in the regional economic panorama.

“Portimão has around 10,500 companies and represents more than 10% of the number of companies in the region. There are 25,000 jobs and these small and micro companies are the driving force behind employment and economic activity in the municipality. Therefore, I would like to congratulate the Municipality for putting companies first”, he said.

This recognition «is, from the outset, a letter of comfort, with the financing entities, but also a bet on the future of these companies» and it is for this reason that José Apolinário recommends that entrepreneurs «focus on the qualification of human resources, on digitalization and on innovation», both in processes and products, thus creating greater resilience, financial dimension and robustness on the part of local entrepreneurship.

On the occasion, Nuno Gonçalves, vice-president of the IAPMEI board of directors, stated that “the distinction is not a matter of vanity. It is a matter of merit that must be demonstrated to society. This award was created with the aim of distinguishing the best of the best and of instilling in those who are not yet in this room the motivation to become so.

According to the IAPMEI representative, the granting of these statuses or their maintenance depend on three essential factors: sustainability, digital transition and partnerships. Nuno Gonçalves therefore left some advice to entrepreneurs regarding their actions in these areas.

In turn, Catarina Paiva, administrator of Turismo de Portugal, praised the role of the distinguished guests in a context marked by several changes.

«As a society, we have experienced many changes, from pandemics, climate change, migration cycles, the evolution of new technologies that change our organizations, inflation, interest rates, and all of this has a huge impact on the way companies have to manage their organizations», he characterized.

“The companies that are here are doubly meritorious, for being resilient, for being able to demonstrate their performance, not only in financial terms, but also in terms of innovation practices”, he added.

The PME Líder 2024 companies are already known and, soon, IAPMEI and Turismo de Portugal will announce which companies have achieved the PME Excelência 2024 status, so the municipality of Portimão intends to promote a new edition of this recognition ceremony for the local companies awarded by the end of this year.

Created in 2008, the PME Líder award aims to publicly recognize the performance of companies that stand out for their good management practices, financial solidity and contribution to the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy. Companies that have this seal achieve greater notoriety and gain access to better financing conditions and strategic tools to support growth.

In turn, the PME Excelência status is awarded, starting from the PME Líder universe, to an even more restricted group of companies, based on demanding management and economic-financial performance criteria. This status was created in 2009 and represents a top recognition, reserved for companies with proven robustness, strategic vision and sustainability.

It should be remembered that the PME Excelência seal adds credibility with suppliers, customers, financial institutions and public authorities, promoting relationships of trust that drive business growth.

Both statuses are awarded by IAPMEI, in partnership with Turismo de Portugal and several leading banking institutions.

Companies from Portimão distinguished as Leading SMEs: Ababuja Tourist Developments, Lda; Albano Tomé, Lda; Alto do Quintão – Hotels and Apartments, Lda; Alvorinfante Hotel Management, Lda; Amplo Assortido – Supermarket, Unip., Lda; Arade Farma, Unip., Lda; Arade Vidros – Glass Industry and Transformation, Lda; Arsul – Awning and Advertising Industry, Lda; Auto Rent – ​​Car Rental, Lda; Autorent III – Purchase, Sale and Rental of Cars, Lda; Brito e Cruz, Lda; Buganvilias Luminosas, Lda; Buildingclass – Specialists in Buildings in the Algarve, Lda; Burger Ranch – Fast Food, Lda; Integrated Dental Medical Clinic Lúcio Faria, Ld; Contifarma, Lda; Duarte e Valério, Lda; Dynamicfortune – Pharmacies, Lda; Elitelma Realizações Turísticas, Lda; Encarnação & Luz – Fish Trading, Lda; Eugiar – Hotel and Similar Enterprises, Lda; Modern Pharmacy of Portimão, Soc. Unip., Lda; Three Bicos Pharmacy, Soc. Unip., Lda; Vieira Soares Pharmacy, Unip., Lda; Fernando Viegas & Filhos, Lda; Stable Figure – Real Estate Mediation, Lda; Florin Popovici, Unip., Lda; Gloria & Silvestre, Lda; Charming Hotels, SA; HVP – Veterinary Medical Services, Lda; I. Gonçalves & M. Duarte, Lda; Ion Cirpa, Unip., Lda; Isabel Maria Pina Palma Marques dos Santos; JD & MJ – Optics, Lda; JM Pereira, Lda; José Carlos Nunes Duarte, Unip., Lda; José Maria Mouco – Food Products Trading, Lda; JRCO – Engineering and Construction, Lda; L37, Unip., Lda; Lin-Li Hotel Activities, Lda; Lorena Ice Creams, Lda; Monádrial – Constructions, Lda; World of Coffee, Lda; Nepeli – Building Materials, Lda; New Ice Ice Cream Shop, Lda: O Penoso – Barbecue, Lda; Oceanifarma, Lda; Pera Premium Properties, Lda; Portifísio – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic of Portimão, Lda; Refrisete – Beverage Distribution Company, Lda; Rolibérica, Lda; Rúbrica Salgada, Lda; Safarispirit, Lda; Sandiainvest, Lda; Silvestre & Sousa – Aluminium Frames, Lda; Sodirocha – Supermarkets, Lda; Sohorta – Barlavento – Agricultural and Horticultural Society of the Algarve, Lda; Tiffamão Restauração, Lda; Veia Poética – Medical Services, Lda; Veritate – Projects and Supervision, Lda; Viveiros da Espargueira – Aquaculture Activities, SA

Companies from Portimão distinguished as PME Excellence: Alto do Quintão – Hotels and Apartments, Lda; Alvorinfante Hotel Management, Lda; Arade Farma, Unip., Lda; Arade Vidros – Glass Industry and Transformation, Lda; Arsul – Awning and Advertising Industry, Lda; Auto Rent – ​​Car Rental, Lda; Autorent III – Purchase, Sale and Rental of Cars, Lda; Brito e Cruz, Lda; Buganvilias Luminosas, Lda; Buildingclass – Specialists in Buildings in the Algarve, Lda; Integrated Dental Medical Clinic Lúcio Faria, Lda; Contifarma, Lda; Eugiar – Hotel and Similar Enterprises, Lda; Fernando Viegas & Filhos, Lda; Boutique Hotels, SA; HVP – Veterinary Medical Services, Lda; I. Gonçalves & M. Duarte, Lda; Ion Cirpa, Unip., Lda; Isabel Maria Pina Palma Marques dos Santos; JD & MJ – Optics, Lda; JM Pereira, Lda; Lorena Gelados, Lda; Nepeli – Building Materials, Lda; O Penoso – Barbecue, Lda; Oceanifarma, Lda; Portifísio – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic of Portimão, Lda; Rolibérica, Lda; Rúbrica Salgada, Lda; Safarispirit, Lda; Silvestre & Sousa – Aluminium Frames, Lda; Veritate – Projects and Inspection, Lda.