Santos Silva said the credit line - which is one of the measures included in the country's "Return Programme" - will now be analysed by an interministerial commission, which will be created to operate and accompany the programme.

He said many emigrants would return to Portugal as entrepreneurs and that the country had confidence in the future success of the programme.

Santos Silva exemplified the success of the programme by referring to a credit line that was created for Portuguese emigrants and descendants in Venezuela worth €50 million.

The "Return programme" also includes tax benefits for emigrants returning this year and in 2020.

Emigrants will see their taxes halved as an initiative to entice them back to the country.