Dear Members,
Dear Friends of ESCALA,
During this holiday period, I took the time to reflect on our community, its history and, above all, what it can still build.
This reflection is personal. My grandfather arrived in Luxembourg in the 1970s.
Like many Portuguese people of his generation, he came here to work, build a better life and provide more opportunities for his family.
Today, when I look at how far we have come, I realise just how much our community has evolved.
The generations that followed grew up here, studied here and are now entrepreneurs, business leaders, executives, investors and professionals across virtually every sector of the Luxembourg economy.
With nearly 94,000 nationals, the Portuguese are now the country’s largest foreign community.
One generation came to build a life in Luxembourg. Another now has the opportunity to build bridges.
For a long time, the question was how to find our place in Luxembourg. Today, we can ask ourselves a different question:
What can we build between Luxembourg and Portugal?
We understand both cultures, both countries and their ecosystems. We have entrepreneurs, business leaders, talent and networks on both sides.
During his visit to Portugal in 2024, Prime Minister Luc Frieden called for stronger economic relations between Luxembourg and Portugal, particularly for the benefit of businesses and SMEs.
I believe this is precisely where ESCALA can play a role.
We already have the history and the human connections. It is now up to us to create more joint projects.
The value of a Business Club is not measured solely by the number of events it organises, but by the connections that turn into opportunities. The company that finds a partner. The entrepreneur who discovers a new market. The business leader who opens a door. The young professional who meets their future mentor.
It is this ability to connect people that we must continue to develop.
I would like to sincerely thank our President, Michel Bastos, for his trust, as well as the entire team — Feliciana, Catarina, Vera, Etelvina and Carlos — with whom I have had the pleasure of working since April 2026.
I would also like to thank our members, our partners, the institutions that support us, and our Cluster Ambassadors. Through your commitment, you bring this community to life.
We have received so much from the generations that came before us. It is now our responsibility to carry this legacy forward by building new economic, entrepreneurial and human bridges between Luxembourg and Portugal.
See you very soon,
Filipe Vilas Boas
Vice President
ESCALA Business Club Luxembourg–Portugal