• Seventh Portuguese group to join ELITE since 2023, and the fourth cohort launched through the World Trade Center Lisboa International Academy by ELITE
• Six new companies bring the Portuguese ELITE network to 48 members across 19 sectors, employing over 30,000 professionals and generating more than €2 billion in revenue

Lisbon – 26 March 2026 – Euronext, the leading European capital market infrastructure, announces the launch of the seventh cohort of Portuguese companies to join ELITE, the exclusive ecosystem dedicated to supporting ambitious private businesses on their growth plans and international expansion.

This cohort brings together a group of six companies, including Logialent, MPG Metalúrgica Pinto Guerreiro, Portocargo Transitários, Starfoods and Trivalor, representing the fourth edition of the World Trade Center Lisboa International Academy by ELITE. This is the first ELITE cohort to launch this year in Portugal, and marks a significant milestone, further consolidating the successful partnership between ELITE and World Trade Center Lisboa.  Established in July 2023, this collaboration is rooted in mutual trust and a commitment to support the growth of the local business ecosystem and its international expansion.

As part of this initiative, companies joining the World Trade Center Lisboa International Academy by ELITE, will embark in a dynamic learning journey for top executives at Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE). They will also participate in four international workshops, engaging with the broader ELITE community of over 2,000 companies across Europe. In addition, they will gain access to specialised expertise in export growth and international matchmaking business development, supported by the global network of 320 World Trade Center hubs across 93 countries.

Since 2023, ELITE has built a strong network in Portugal of 48 companies across 19 sectors, employing over 30,000 professionals and generating €2.1 billion in revenue.

Marta Testi, CEO of ELITE, said: “We are proud to launch the fourth edition of the WTC Lisboa International Academy by ELITE and to welcome the six new companies joining our Portuguese community. With nearly 50 companies now part of the ecosystem, our priority is to equip them with the right tools, expertise, and capital pathways to accelerate their cross‑border growth. In line with this commitment, we are preparing the launch of the Basket Bond Portugal initiative, an innovative mechanism that will provide small and mid-sized Portuguese companies with alternative long‑term financing opportunities through the issuance of minibonds, enhancing both their development and market visibility. Since the start of our collaboration with World Trade Center Lisboa in 2023, this initiative has become a key stimulus in strengthening our presence in the country and a clear demonstration of the ambition and trust of Portuguese entrepreneurs.”

“The fourth edition of the WTC Lisboa International Academy marks a shift from learning to execution. In today’s world, internationalisation is no longer optional, it is a strategic necessity. Through this programme, we are not only preparing companies to think globally, but enabling them to act globally, leveraging the power of the World Trade Center network to accelerate real cross-border opportunities,” said Luciano Menezes, CEO of the World Trade Center Lisboa.

 

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