In a statement, João Leão's office began by stressing that the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 4.2 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period of the previous year and of 2.9 percent in the chain, released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) is "well above the eurozone average (3.7 percent year on year and 2.2 percent quarter on)".

Compared to the previous quarter, "Portugal presents, the third highest growth among the countries of the euro zone", being driven by net external demand, which showed a strong recovery in the third quarter, adds the office.

For the finance minister, quoted in the statement, "the data released reinforces the confidence that Portugal will continue to grow above the European average in the coming years, allowing the level of well-being of the Portuguese to converge with that of other European countries".

The office indicates that the data released in the INE's flash estimate "are in line with the forecast of 4.8 percent growth in 2021 presented in the proposed State Budget for 2022".

"The level of vaccination reached, as well as advanced indicators, such as purchases and ATM withdrawals carried out by foreigners, point to the continuation of a strong recovery until the end of the year", underlines the ministry.

In the document, the ministry also emphasises that "this is the second consecutive quarter that the Portuguese economy has grown above the European average, resuming the convergence with the euro zone that existed until the pandemic".