Madeira reinforces its strategic role in the European economy

President of SDM highlights the contribution of the Madeira International Business Centre at a European Parliament conference

The President of Sociedade de Desenvolvimento da Madeira (SDM), Rogério Gouveia, took part on November 4, 2025, in the High-Level Conference “The Autonomous Region of Madeira in the European Union’s Strategic Agenda: Connectivity, Security, Sustainability”, organized jointly by the European Parliament and the Regional Government of Madeira, in Brussels.

In his address, dedicated to the theme “Madeira International Business Centre: A Strategic Platform for Europe”, Rogério Gouveia emphasized the geostrategic role of the Region as an Atlantic bridge between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He underlined that, despite its outermost location, Madeira occupies a central position in the Atlantic, benefiting from full access to the European Single Market and serving as Europe’s Atlantic gateway.

Presenting the Madeira International Business Centre (MIBC) as a tool of integration and competitiveness, the SDM President noted that this platform has been essential in attracting international investment, diversifying the regional economy, and strengthening the European Union’s economic sovereignty.

Under the motto “From the Periphery to the Vanguard”, the presentation highlighted Madeira’s contribution to the European objectives of cohesion, innovation, and sustainability, affirming the archipelago as a strategic base for economic and business operations in the Atlantic.

The event also featured the participation of representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Regional Government of Madeira, including Miguel Albuquerque, Nathalie Berger, Paulo de Nascimento Cabral, Younous Omarjee, and Albrecht Gundermann, among others.

SDM’s presence at this conference underscored the institution’s commitment to positioning Madeira as an outstanding platform for international business, contributing to the strengthening of the European Union’s position in the Atlantic and global arenas.