António Saraiva has been the President of CIP – the Portuguese Business Confederation, since 2010. CIP is the largest and most impactful association in Portugal. He is also Vice-President of BusinessEurope, the Confederation of European Companies which is the leading advocate for business in Europe and represents the major Confederations of 35 European countries.

Antonio is also Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council of Portugal António Saraiva has become one of the most influential figures in Portuguese society and has dedicated over 40 years of his life to associativism.

Today he is deemed an expert in corporate diplomacy and associativism and is a highly sought-after speaker and business commentator. He is the veritable self-made man.

He began his professional life as a factory worker at Lisnave Shipyard and later went on to become Sales Manager at Metalúrgica Luso-Alemã and then Chairman of Metalúrgica Luso-Italiana, SA.

He is also Chairman of Taguspark, the largest Science and Technology Park, a Board Member of FUTURE COMPTA, and also of the Institute for Employment and Professional Training.

He recently became Chairman of the company SPAL, a well-known Portuguese brand. He is also a member of the Strategic Council of SOFID – the Society of Financing and Development, IFIC SA, and a Board Member of Global Media.

On an academic level, he is a member of the ISCSP - Advanced Institute for Social Science and Political Studies University Council, Member of the ISCTE University Education Council, member of the Advisory Board of the Católica Porto Business School and member of the Strategic Council of the Lusófona University. In addition he lectures Corporate Diplomacy at ISCSP University, and Economic Development at Coimbra Business School.

Antonio Saraiva also received the Order of the Prince from the Portuguese Republic for outstanding services.