Madeira Corporate Services issues this statement to reaffirm our ongoing commitment to transparency, regulatory compliance, and the highest standards of professional conduct in the context of the Madeira International Business Centre (CINM/MIBC), which comprises the Industrial Free Trade Zone, International Services, and the Madeira International Ship Registry (MAR).
The MIBC is fully integrated into the European Union legal framework.
The CINM/MIBC operates under authorisations and rules aligned with EU State aid law, reflecting Madeira’s status as an outermost region under the Treaties. Current regional investment tax incentives operate pursuant to the EU General Block Exemption Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 651/2014) and applicable regional aid guidelines, with notification to the European Commission where required.
All entities established within the regime are subject to EU and Portuguese legal and regulatory obligations, including:
- Compliance with the Registo Central do Beneficiário Efetivo (RCBE), pursuant to Lei n.º 58/2020, including instruments registered in the CINM/MIBC
- Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and automatic international exchange of information
- EU Anti‑Money Laundering Directives and national AML/CFT legislation
- Know‑Your‑Customer and enhanced due diligence requirements by obliged entities
- Tax supervision by the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira and, territorially, by AT‑RAM
- Financial supervision of institutions by Banco de Portugal and, where applicable, the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM)
- Mandatory reporting of suspicious transactions to the Unidade de Informação Financeira (UIF) of the Polícia Judiciária, where applicable
The CINM/MIBC is therefore a transparent, EU‑compliant regime operating within a robust legal and supervisory environment.
Financial supervision and AML/KYC responsibilities
It is essential to clarify that the opening, operation, and monitoring of bank accounts, as well as the verification of the source of funds, fall exclusively within the competence of licensed financial institutions and their respective regulators. Banks are legally obliged to:
- verify the identity and profile of account holders,
- apply enhanced KYC and due diligence where required,
- monitor ongoing transactions,
- Report suspicious activity to the competent authorities (UIF/PJ).
Madeira Corporate Services strictly complies with all obligations applicable to professional service providers, including:
- client identification and verification,
- risk assessment,
- ongoing monitoring,
- mandatory reporting,
- full cooperation with national and EU authorities.
Commitment to professional ethics, regulatory compliance and institutional cooperation
Since its inception, MCS has maintained a consistent commitment to integrity, transparency and best‑practice compliance. Our teams work daily to ensure:
- rigorous technical accuracy,
- adherence to all regulatory standards,
- practical cooperation with supervisory bodies.
We reaffirm that the CINM is a legitimate, EU‑approved economic instrument within the framework of EU State aid rules and national legislation, and that its success relies on the consistent application of laws that ensure transparency, legality and sound governance.
Conclusion
Madeira Corporate Services will continue to:
- fulfil all regulatory and compliance obligations,
- cooperate fully with competent authorities,
- uphold the international credibility of the Autonomous Region of Madeira as a secure, transparent and reliable EU jurisdiction.
The Madeira International Business Centre (CINM/MIBC) should be continuously assessed within its legal and institutional framework, and it is within that framework that MCS will continue to operate with professionalism, responsibility, and integrity.
The founding of Madeira Corporate Services dates back to 1996. MCS started as a corporate service provider in the Madeira International Business Center and rapidly became a leading management company… Read more
