Welcome to the Official page of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic

I am very pleased to attend the inaugural act of the IBM Services Centre in Tomar, a city founded with the birth of the nation, and the historical headquarters of the Military Orders of the Temple and of Christ.

The start of this Centre’s operations, especially symbolising the 75 years of IBM’s presence in Portugal, is of great relevance for the County of Tomar, for the region’s economic development and also for the external image of the Country

This investment is the opportune alignment of the objectives and concerted efforts between public bodies – the Tomar County Council -, a higher educational institution – the Tomar Polytechnic Institute – and IBM. Cooperation between the three allowed the setting up of an innovatory investment solution, the shortening of delays in execution and thus obtain, in the short term, an impact in the region’s economy and rate of employment.

The Centre that we are inaugurating today responds to three challenges faced by Portugal. Firstly, it brings opportunities for the creation of young and highly qualified employment, thus contributing towards the lessening of the grievous issue of lack of demand.

The possibility opened up for young people to find jobs, with future prospects, in the region where they attended schools and where their roots lie will, anyway, contribute towards the permanence of many who would prefer to remain here and set up their families in the land that witnessed their birth and their growing up.

Secondly, the choice of Tomar for materializing this investment shows that Portugal is ready to receive international investment and that it stands out as one of the most competitive locations in Europe.

IBM, such as other relevant multinational corporations in our Country, recognizes that Portugal offers unique conditions for the launching of high added value technological projects, and has available highly qualified human resources, higher educational institutions conforming to international standards, excellent infrastructures and a business environment that more than ever favours corporate activities.

The subscribing of a protocol of cooperation with the Tomar Polytechnic Institute, which assumes increased responsibilities in the development of this Centre, and the physical presence in the respective campus are relevant signs of the recognition of this institution’s potential, given the prevailing tradition of IBM’s cooperation with the best universities and research centres in the whole world.

Thirdly, this investment materializes, so to speak, two of the key factors for growth in the Portuguese economy: knowledge and innovation. I have argued for many years that the competitiveness of our economy can only develop through greater productivity of knowledge and technology and that the relationship of proximity and cooperation between Higher Education Institutions and business enterprises thus assumes, in this perspective, a central role.

The agreement between the Tomar Polytechnic Institute and IBM is a good example of the path we have to follow in providing proximity between the system of higher education and scientific institutions and the entrepreneurial world.

Since workers are the most precious corporate capital, the challenge for the qualification of the national labour base is a prior consideration. Only with capable and motivated workers will companies be able to gain assertion in the competitive terrain of the global markets and, as such, contribute towards the national objectives of economic growth and creation of employment.

The location of this new Centre in the campus is an excellent opportunity to construe, starting from an academic institution, new solutions for the qualification of Portuguese professionals.

I must equally underline that the consensus achieved between the political powers over the relevance of this investment towards the development of the local economy, conferred on the project an increased guarantee of stability and must be taken as a very positive example for the remainder of the Country.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The investment we are inaugurating today earmarks the renewal of IBM’s commitment with Portugal. A commitment that began 75 years ago.

It is well known that great changes in technology have a deep impact on the course of history and on society as a whole. Throughout the last century, information technologies became much more than tools. Their predominant role in impelling productivity in all economic sectors, their weight as a services industry and their relevance to general scientific advances, are remarkably evident today.

Technology is, undoubtedly, rooted in almost all the dimensions of human experience. Information and communication technologies are nowadays vitally necessary to the lives of millions and millions of people that work and live in a world whose functioning is more than ever complex.

Due to globalization, the world’s economic map is redesigned around the new powers. IBM early understood the implications of these changes, and reinvented itself within the concept of “globally integrated corporations”, concerning which I had the opportunity lo listen to Sam Palmisano speaking enthusiastically, in 2006, during the first visit to Portugal of IBM’s then CEO.

In our country, IBM’s activity throughout these 75 years has brought an unquestionable contribution towards the development of the information technology sector and for the modernization of our entrepreneurial fabric and of our Public Administration, in addition to being a prime incentive for the setting up of companies and creation of qualified jobs.

IBM’s contribution towards the development of the national scientific and university systems must equally be underlined. Since the spurt of scientific computing the fruitful relationship with universities and research centres has been instrumental for the production of new knowledge, new tools, contents and methods, as well as a stimulus to Research and Development activities.

The IBM Scientific Prize, instituted in 1990, is a good example of the disclosure of works by young Portuguese researchers and an incentive to the production of eminent scientific knowledge.

Regarding industrialization of service centres, IBM has found in Portugal a enviable location for new international operations, of which this new centre in Tomar, after Lisbon and Braga, is the most recent example.

The outcome is thus very positive. If, for all who work daily in IBM, this success is a reason for pride, it also brings upon them new and increased responsibilities.

In the current context of Portuguese collective life, it is crucial that we favour a culture of ambition, merit and exposure to risk. These are values that, when morphed in entrepreneurial innovation, allow us to advance towards a society that is more agile, more robust and more opened up to the world.

I equally underline the values of active citizenry, long term vision and commitments to sustainable development which are manifest in activities of companies such as IBM and, particularly, the importance of these companies’ commitments with qualified employment, with education and with training, fundamental bulwarks for a more prosperous, fairer and cohesive society.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Throughout a century of existence, IBM knew how to conform to alterations in the global economy, to the whirlwind technological evolution and to keep faithful to its values and roots, within a constantly changing world.

If, as eternalized by our major poet, “the entire world is made of change”, the preservation of a leadership with solid identity values is an essential condition for the survival of an organization.

I recall the idea of the first leader of IBM, that an organization can – and must – assert itself and become distinguished by the values of its culture. “If an organization wishes to face the challenges of a changing world, it must be ready to change in everything, except in its creeds”, stated Tom Watson.

Led for decades by Portuguese professionals, the work carried out by IBM’s national branch in several business areas is recognized by the company as a world case study. IBM’s Portuguese branch is not just another subsidiary of a large multinational corporation. It is an organization that has built its reputation autonomously thanks to its high professional standards and to its focus on results.
The company’s high level of performance is, of course, a motive of pride, but also carries expectations and creates increased future responsibilities.

The investment in this new Services Centre which we are opening today is a stake placed on the Country’s potential and the evidence that we have good reasons not to fear the future.

Congratulations to IBM for these brilliant 75 years in Portugal, which we so happily celebrate here today.

Thank you