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I am very pleased to be once again associated with the award ceremony of the Prize for Innovatory Entrepreneurialism in the Portuguese Diaspora.

I salute those who were named for this 5th edition and address a friendly welcoming word to all who travelled from the four corners of the World to take part in this ceremony.

I am overjoyed to renew my acquaintance with many whom I have met before, in the countries where they work and live with their families, on the occasions of my encounters with the Portuguese communities.

Although a 5th edition this initiative cannot be considered as routine. On the contrary.

Each edition brings greater value, greater impact, and greater expectations. This initiative has gained its own life and character and is nowadays the unfolding of the many bonds that were linked, nearing distances and sharing energies and affections.

This group of Diaspora Portuguese present here today, that are joined by all the others who marked their presence in previous editions, is really demonstrative of the size and enormous potential of a reality that is seldom recognized or valued.

Paying a tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of the Portuguese, of all the Portuguese, we wanted to particularly distinguish those that developed their careers throughout the World. The actions of all those who, starting out of Portugal, motivated by the belief in their capabilities, and due to an invincible will to win, harvest today the result of their talent and their efforts, are an integral part of our being as a People and a Nation.

I believe this reencounter of the Portuguese as a most relevant initiative. It contributes towards the narrowing of gaps between Portuguese separated by elongated geographical distances, whilst it also serves the essential purpose, which cannot now be postponed, to muster all of them towards achieving Portugal’s development.

And this mustering, which is already evidenced by the greater proximity with the Country, is becoming materialized by the many who have already invested in their country of origin, as in the case of the company that I visited this morning and that I invite you to meet.

I was pleased to hear that the decision to invest in Portugal was a very positive reaction to the prize awarded here, last year, to João Mena Matos. It should be referred that the decision was not just emotional, but above all else, an entrepreneurial decision. It is a promissory investment, objectively claimed, and thus very welcome. I know that many others will follow along.

To believe in our country and become an active courageous and determined part in its development and progress is a challenge that is placed before all the Portuguese. Those that are spread all over the World can be precious allies in this our determination

Since the beginnings of my first mandate that I made known my commitment to contribute towards a greater proximity between Portugal and the Portuguese communities and their descendants abroad. Nowadays I can recognize, with pride, the generous answer that has been given me.

I thus reassert this commitment of mine and which I more than ever consider as a priority. I shall also place all my endeavours so that Portugal, in this regard, substitutes actions for words, and thus creates irreversible dynamics that comprises reality with our national way of life.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Prize we are awarding today celebrates the values of entrepreneurialism and innovation. These words cannot be considered as trite nor can they lose their very deep sense of spirit.

Entrepreneurial impetus results from the wish of achieving what is different, from improving the status quo. Entrepreneurs are ambitious. They are proud of their success. And for this reason recognition by others is an integral part of their strength and their energy.

But entrepreneurs are not selfish, or avaricious. They create wealth so that the world surrounding them can change, and this also implies the spirit of sharing and generosity and wishing well for others.

None of this is achieved without courage. The courage of beginning, overcoming obstacles and reserves, but also the courage of running risks, since all the paths of success are run by conquering moments of distress and learning from failures.

We can assert, in short, that an entrepreneur is a person who achieves self fulfilment whenever his actions exhibit the prominence of others. He is a social being, somebody who cares.

Such are those who are with us here today, ready to impart their example and to share with their country of origin the success they achieved.

Such as culture will stagnate without its continued renewal with the strength of artistic creativity, an economy demands the strength of entrepreneurs to be renewed through innovatory activities that impel economic growth and productivity, and that generate employment.

It is not enough, however, to call upon more entrepreneurs that intend investing in innovatory activities. It is necessary to generate a favourable environment, a more widely open economy and an adequate incentive structure. An environment that ensures healthy competition and a regulation that establishes a fair balance between the advantages of innovation and its risks, as well as a protective regime of intellectual property that carries out its mission without blocking its innovatory dynamics.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The World is well represented here today, since there are 35 countries from the five continents where our countrymen live and work that gave us the honour of accepting the invitation to attend this event. Portugal is, thus as stated by Father António Vieira, the fatherland whose essence is to be universal.

The success of this initiative, that has been growing throughout its five editions, has a secret: the secret of the meeting of minds.

Portugal wants to strengthen irreversibly the network that must link it to the Portuguese who, generation after generation, have dispersed throughout the World. And your presence and your interest are the living proof that you continue linked by strong bonds of affection to your country of birth or in which you keep your personal roots.

You are very welcome here, together with your experience, your success, and with your extraordinary enterprising energy.

Portugal needs your energy, your drive, your example.

I have been able to confirm, through my many contacts with the external Community, this wish for involvement in the primary purpose of the Country’s economic recovery.

As you are certainly well aware, the uncertainty deriving from the challenges that Europe is facing nowadays is very great. But, independently from this reality, Portugal is firmly decided in doing its part.

I thus ask you, for this reason, to tell your business partners, your friends and acquaintances, that Portugal is fighting with courage and determination to overcome its current difficulties. I am certain that, together with your help and your encouragement, we will be able to conquer them.

I congratulate the winner of the 2012 Prize for Innovatory Entrepreneurialism in the Portuguese Diaspora, Isabel Santos Melo, due to her extraordinary contribution towards the improvement in the living standards of the aged in the United Kingdom. My congratulations, also, to the other distinguished parties, Christophe da Fonseca and Gilberto Rodrigues.

Allow me to greet the COTEC team, responsible for the organization, blameless as usual, and that I address a special word of thanks to the President of the Jury, Dr. Filipe de Botton, the main driver of this successful initiative since its very beginning, and who relinquishes his duties today.

This initiative, which was born from an appeal, swiftly overcame its promoters, and gained its own dynamics that we all hope irreversible. It thus deserves redoubled support and enthusiasm since, treading this path, we can view a promissory sign of what can be the future of Portugal.

Portugal is not just a small country in the continent of Europe. Portugal is spread all over the World, and this valuable network of energies and wills, strengthened by bonds of affection that have always been kept alive, and which we fondle and reciprocate, turns us into an immense country.

Thank you all very much.