Gustavo Paulo Duarte elected to lead Portugal's trade confederation until 2029

Gustavo Paulo Duarte was elected president of the Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal (CCP) for the 2026–2029 term on Wednesday, succeeding João Vieira Lopes, who will now take over as chair of the General Council.

"Today, the CCP elected Gustavo Paulo Duarte, representing Antram (the Portuguese Freight Transport Association), as president of the board for the 2026–2029 term," the organization announced in a statement.

Duarte brings 18 years of experience in Antram, including six as its president.

"I take on this responsibility with a sense of institutional duty and a spirit of mission," he said in the statement. "My commitment is to a CCP that stands close to its member associations, firmly defends trade and services, and works toward a more competitive Portuguese economy." The CCP is a confederation with a seat on Portugal's Social Concertation body.

The platform presented by Duarte's unopposed candidacy centers on three priorities: strengthening the confederation's representativeness, modernizing its structure, and ensuring its financial sustainability.

A graduate in management and industrial engineering from ISCTE, Duarte has served as executive president of the Paulo Duarte Group since 2018. In 2022, he was elected vice president of the CCP.

José de Matos (Portuguese Association of Construction Materials Traders) was elected president of the CCP's general assembly, while Carlos Ferreira (Portuguese Association of Accounting and Management Firms) will head the oversight board. João Vieira Lopes will assume the presidency of the General Council.

"I am confident that the new leadership will rise to the challenges facing our country, our economy, and—above all—the trade and services sectors," outgoing president Vieira Lopes remarked.