Portugal’s construction sector creates construction foundation in bid to solve Portugal’s chronic housing shortage

Portugal’s construction, engineers, architects and economists associations have joined forces with 14 of the country’s leading construction companies to form a Construction Foundation.

The foundation was officially signed into being on Thursday at a ceremony including the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz and the presidents and CEOs of all the associations and companies involved.

The founding companies are: A400, Alves Ribeiro Construção, Betar Consultores, Casais, Coba, Conduril, Gabriel Couto, Grupo Visabeira, HCI, JLCM, Mota-Engil, NRV, Teixeira Duarte, and Ventura + Partners.

This initiative arises from the “conviction that a joint and concerted effort between the main entities in the sector is important to contribute to the collective knowledge of the real needs of the country in the sector, such as for the correct scaling of its infrastructures and the building environment, safeguarding sustainable economic development and the defence of national interest and autonomy”, according to the founders.

During the official presentation and the public deed signing session for the Construction Foundation, Miguel Pinto Luz shared his “enthusiasm” for the initiative: “at this stage of governance, I fully identify with the constitution of this foundation”.

And in a nod to Portugal’s affordable housing crisis it signals a positive step for all interested parties, including the government to solve the chronic housing shortage problem.

Miguel Pinto Luz said he understood “all your desires. If we do not mobilise the sector, create new rules and mechanisms, we cannot advance the works we want and the structural changes required to build the new housing we need. This foundation is important to think about how this sector can be more competitive. So we’ll never be behind the others. We want to continue to demand this quality,” he said.