BRAGA SR

Braga is the 3rd largest city in Portugal, following Lisbon and Porto. Its strategic location provides excellent accessibility, placing it less than an hour from both Porto and Vigo (in Galicia, Spain). Over the last 10 years Braga more than doubled its exportations, that represent today over 2,4% of the overall National Exportations. This is due to a highly qualified industrial fabric with more than 26.000 companies. Braga's strong demographic growth (>17,74%) reflects its expanding job market and sustained attractiveness to investors. In addition to its resident population, the city accommodates more than 28,000 daily commuters. Over the last 10 years, the foreign resident population in Braga has increased by 78%. But how has Braga achieved so much is only 10 years? Braga developed, since 2014, a robust public policy aimed at promoting sustainable development that integrate environmental stewardship, economic vitality, social equity, and cultural richness. To achieve it, Braga created: (1) A unique Governance Model that guaranteed the creation of different interfaces (Strategic Councils) that support a holistic growth of the city, ensuring that Braga could be liveable, resilient, and thriving for all residents; (2) Strategic Local Action Plans on various topics through collaborative work within the proposed Governance Model. Initially tested in 2014 in the field of Economic Development, the model was refined based and has been implemented across all public policies; (3) A Culture of Cocreation between partners and the idea that Braga is a Living Lab to generate innovative public policies that can be tested in a real environment. These elements work together to make Braga environmentally sustainable, economically vibrant, socially inclusive, and culturally rich, setting a strong foundation for the well-being of our current and future generations. Braga, a Sustainable Reinvention with very positive and impactful results to our citizens quality of life.