About Oliveira de Azeméis

Oliveira de Azeméis is a municipality in Aveiro District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 84,479, in an area of 172.42 km². The municipality includes several towns, including Águeda, Vale de Cambra, Oliveira de Azeméis, Estarreja, Santa Maria da Feira, and Ovar. Oliveira de Azeméis is a municipality with a long industrial tradition. The first factories were set up in the 19th century, attracted by the water power of the Rivers Azambuja and Louça, which cross the municipality. The factory of Renovações Nogueirense was one of the first and is today one of the largest paper mills in Europe. The municipality has always been a important centre of the textile industry. The first factories date back to the end of the 19th century. The spinning and weaving of textile were the main activities, but the industry has diversified over the years and today there are factories making footwear, clothing, metallurgical products and plastics. The industry of Oliveira de Azeméis has always been linked to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. The proximity of the two cities has allowed for the development of a strong commercial and service sector in the municipality.