The CEO of Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Paulo Macedo, said that the bank is prepared to move forward with joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions in the field of the ocean economy, as part of the launch of a platform that facilitates investment in this area.
As part of the launch of the Hub Azul Dealroom platform – which aims to bring together start-ups, SMEs and investors in blue economy projects – the CEO of Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD), Paulo Macedo, did not rule out possible joint ventures or future acquisitions to support the ocean-related economy.
The Hub Azul Dealroom platform, launched on Monday, uses artificial intelligence to connect various players in the blue economy investment market (investors, start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises) with common interests.
The technology identifies the profile of start-ups and matches them with investment funds on the platform, using open information from the Internet and Dealroom’s proprietary algorithm, which allows ‘access to credible information about investment types, investors, start-ups and the market,’ said Manuel Melo, innovation manager at Fórum Oceano. ‘The Portuguese economy can only grow if it takes advantage of its resources,’ said the professor at Nova School of Business and Economics.
That is why the project has attracted partners such as Caixa Geral de Depósitos, whose CEO, present at the ceremony, emphasised its relevance ‘in reducing the ecological footprint’ of companies and achieving zero emission targets. It was also in this context that he stated that CGD is prepared ‘to create joint ventures and carry out mergers and acquisitions,’ in addition to issuing sustainable bonds and green bonds.
In addition to Caixa Geral de Depósitos, another prominent partner is Euronext Lisbon itself. Its executive chair, Isabel Ucha, also referred to the central role that the blue economy has taken on in Europe. According to the CEO, in the last five years, the blue economy at Euronext has grown by 30% and now includes 200 companies in areas such as fishing, mining, maritime transport, tourism, among others.
News Jornal de Negócios: https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/mercados/detalhe/cgd-esta-preparada-para-joint-ventures-e-aquisicoes-no-ambito-da-economia-azul