On October 2, OVIA Chairman of the Board, Ambassador António Martins da Cruz participated in Funchal in the conference “Is There a New World Order? Global Challenges in Security, Defense and Geopolitics,” as part of the Autonomy Conferences series held as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Madeira’s political autonomy.
Held at the Casa da Luz – Electricity Museum Auditorium, the conference brought together Ambassador António Martins da Cruz and Paulo Portas for a discussion on changes in the international system, emerging security and defense challenges, and Portugal’s strategic role in a changing world. The session was moderated by attorney Nuno Teixeira.
In his remarks, Ambassador António Martins da Cruz highlighted the importance of Madeira’s geostrategic position and Portugal’s Atlantic dimension, emphasizing the region’s relevance to Portugal’s stability and international standing. “From a political and economic perspective, Portugal is a European country. From a strategic perspective, we are an Atlantic country,” he said.
The participation of OVIA’s President in the event is particularly significant at a time when the Agency has been strengthening its relationship with Madeira and the institutions responsible for promoting investment in the region.
In May of this year, OVIA and Invest Madeira signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed specifically at deepening cooperation in the areas of innovation, business investment, and internationalization.
It is within this context that OVIA’s participation in the Autonomy Conferences takes on an additional dimension. The relationship between Oeiras and Madeira is not limited to economic promotion; it also involves gaining a deeper understanding of the strategic strengths of each territory and identifying areas where their interests and capabilities can converge.
Madeira has a unique Atlantic position and a growing focus on areas such as the digital economy, technology, advanced services, and business internationalization, fields that can complement Oeiras’ ecosystem of knowledge, innovation, and business. The framework of the OVIA–Invest Madeira agreement itself points to the identification of opportunities in sectors with higher technological intensity and internationalization potential.
Ambassador António Martins da Cruz’s participation in Funchal therefore brought together two dimensions that are becoming increasingly important to OVIA: understanding the major geopolitical transformations reshaping international relations and building practical bridges between Portuguese territories with the capacity to work together.
