Modernity, consistency and trust

About us

Founded in 1981 in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, AFA Group is today a business conglomerate with a consolidated international position and with interests in diverse business sectors. Construction and Engineering, however, continues to be one of the Group’s main businesses, contributing the major part of its global revenues through AFAVIAS.

In addition to Madeira, where it is the market leader in the Civil Construction and Public Works sector, AFA Group is also present in mainland Portugal and the Azores. Internationally, Africa remains the area where the Group’s main interests are concentrated. It was on this continent that, in Mauritania and Senegal, AFA Group began its international expansion in 2007 and the continent continues to be its main market, more particularly the Republic of Angola.

AFA Group, a benchmark of modernity, consistency and trust, has established a set of principles guiding the three areas of professional ethics: economic, social and environmental; as well as rules that provide guidance on its entire activity.

Values

The AFA Group has established a set of principles and values in matters of professional ethics in its triple dimension, economic, social and environmental, as guiding standards for all its activities. In this way, it intends to be a reference for the public, with regard to standards of conduct, both in relationships among employees and with third parties, with a view to recognition in terms of excellence, integrity, responsibility and rigour.

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Cohesion

Stimulation of communication, participation, solidarity and team spirit

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Truth

Performance based on ethics, rigor and good faith

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Respect

For people, institutions and for the environment

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Confidence

The given word is a guarantee of the fulfilment of our obligations

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Excellence

Planning, organization and knowledge in search of perfection

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Innovation

Encouragement of creativity and ingenuity and ingenuity

Key information about the AFA Group

1981

Foundation

Creation of the company José Avelino Aguiar Farinha e Francisco da Paixão de Agrela, in the municipality of Calheta, now called AFAVIAS – Engenharia e Construções, S.A., the forefather of today’s AFA Group. At present, construction remains the main pillar of the Group.

1985

Growth and expansion

Obtention of the first public works contractor’s permit on 12 December. AFAVIAS was the first company nationally with a project approved under the Sistema de Incentivos de Base Regional (Regionally-based Incentives Scheme, SIBR), enabling it to invest in equipment and infrastructure and strengthen its competitive capacity.

1986

First projects

First urban development project undertaken in Pico da Cruz, Funchal, for a private developer. Several years later, AFAVIAS built the first prestressed reinforced concrete bridge at Laranjal, in São Vicente.

1996

Major road works

Participation in a major project, as part of the consortium winning the contract for the construction of the Quinta Grande – Ribeira Brava motorway.

1999

First foray into tourism

Construction of the Calheta Beach Hotel, an undertaking that came to boost the tourism sector and the whole economy in the municipality of Calheta, in the west of the island of Madeira. This foray into tourism actually began in 1989 with the opening of the Onda Azul restaurant.

2000

AFAVIAS Açores

The company commercially known as AFAVIAS Açores was founded in 2000. The company name changed to AFAVIAS – Engenharia e Construções – Açores – S.A. in 2009, following the acquisition of the whole company by the AFA Group.

2007

Internationalisation

Start of the internationalisation and expansion of activity to 3 new countries – Mauritania, Senegal and Angola – having won road works contracts in each of these countries representing over 100 km. Angola remains the market where the Group has the biggest presence in construction outside the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

2012

Best Company

AFAVIAS recognised as Best Company in the construction sector by Exame Magazine’s 500 Biggest & Best initiative.

2015

Expansion into hotels

The Group opens a new hotel, the Saccharum. This same year, the AFA Group acquires SIET SAVOY, S.A., and with it three further hotels: Savoy Palace (in planning phase), Royal Savoy and Gardens, all in Funchal.

2017

Media

Alongside its investment in Rádio Calheta and Rádio Santana, the AFA Group acquired 50.5% of EJM (company that owns Rádio JM and Jornal da Madeira).

2019

New pillars: hotels and real estate

Presentation of the new image of the Savoy Signature hotel collection and the opening of the Savoy Palace, the only member hotel of “The Leading Hotels of the World” network, in Madeira, on 1 July. Launch of the Savoy Residence brand, representing a superior real estate concept at prime locations in Funchal.

2020

Verbum Media

Following the Group’s restructuring, Verbum Media – Comunicação, Lda. began to concentrate all the Group’s interests in media companies and acquired 36.8866% of the capital of EDN (Diário de Notícias da Madeira).

2021

New challenges

June saw the start of the first phase of construction of the Central and University Hospital of Madeira. More than 1,200,000 m3 were excavated and transported by AFAVIAS using its own means. The Savoy Signature collection continues to grow and the NEXT hotel opens on 1 July in Funchal.

2022

Best Company by Exame Magazine

AFAVIAS was named 2021 Best Company in the Construction and Real Estate sector by Exame Magazine.