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

Mister President of the Generalitat,
Mister President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation,
Mister Secretary of State for Energy of the Spanish Government,
Mister Secretary of State for Energy and Innovation of the Portuguese Government,
Entrepreneurs,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It was with great interest and expectations that I received the news of the Arrangement which set up the Barcelona Iberian Forum, between the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation and the Portuguese Consulate General in this city. One of its objectives is to promote continuous debate and economic re-launching between Portugal and Spain, in order to achieve a more effective cooperation between the economic and entrepreneurial agents of both countries.

This is an important initiative which I must vividly salute, certain that the future reserves it great success.

In the latter years, Portugal’s and Spain’s shares in trading relations and in the economic activity of both countries have considerably increased. Portugal is the third market for Spanish exports, whilst Spain is the main destination of Portuguese exports, absorbing approximately 30% of national exports of goods.

The region of Catalonia, particularly, is nowadays Portugal’s main trading partner within the scope of the Spanish State, thus justifying, even further, the setting up of this Iberian Forum.

These figures do not signify, however, that we are facing the full utilization of the Iberian market and that the economic cooperation between Portugal and Spain is sufficiently developed and consolidated.

It should be particularly noted that the international trade statistics between Portugal and Spain could be overestimating the real economic interaction between the two countries, since part of these statistics solely reflect the role of both countries as platforms for the transit of goods destined to other markets.

I am convinced that there are still important gains to be obtained in the area of relations between the economic agents of both countries, specifically at the level of cooperation between companies and in economic integration itself.

Issues concerning energy and environment are nowadays a prime challenge, not just between Portugal and Spain, but also in a global sense.

As such I am pleased to ascertain the choice of the theme for this first edition of the Barcelona Iberian Forum.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The adhesion of Portugal and Spain to the European Union and particularly to the Monetary and Economic Union brought important benefits to the economies of both countries: a generally more stable macroeconomic framework, greater ease of access to the European market for goods and services, and lower costs in the financing of the economic agents – which, in effect, were the basis of the enormous expansion in internal demand recorded in Portugal and Spain in the latter years.

Notwithstanding the current international economic and financial instability, these are clearly relevant advantages in a medium to long term perspective, and which should be duly utilized.

It is known that the adhesion to the sole currency implied the loss of important adjustment tools, specifically in the area of economic policy. The answer to internal and external shocks now demands different devices, possibly more complex considering their structure and consequences for the economic agents.
In Portugal’s case, the adjustment to this new reality has not been easy.

Spain’s economic performance throughout the last decade was more favourable. The more recent situation, however, suggests that the Spanish economy is also facing difficult options.

The main challenge which both countries are now facing is to prepare economic recovery, adopting a path of sustainable growth, which takes advantage from lessons learnt and that duly enhances their resources within the new global competitive picture.

It is true that in the current situation faster and short term responses are demanded in order to mitigate the impact of the crisis on the less favoured, of preserving the economic and social balance, and of combating issues such as unemployment or poverty.

But recessions, although painful, can also function as phenomena which enhance the capacity to reinvent the economies. It is essential, for this reason, to look beyond the current crisis. Avoiding the repetition of errors committed in the past, mustering wills and preparing, immediately, to take full advantage of the opportunities which will appear in the post recession period.

In this perspective, I consider that the main objective of Portuguese and Spanish companies must be to invest heavily in innovation, in the strengthening of competitiveness and in the conquering of new markets. The economic future of our countries lies along these lines.

The achievement of this objective is a particular responsibility of companies, but it also demands the endeavour of the whole of society including the politicians.

I believe that, in the area of politics, it is essential to proceed with and deepen the structural reforms required to set up more favourable conditions for the development of private initiative. What is needed, for example, is to modernize the State, to invest in knowledge and research, to refurbish companies and human capital, to muster the economic agents.
Above all, however, it is in entrepreneurial initiative that resides the hope of a positive answer to the challenges faced by Portuguese and Spanish economies. In this context, and within the scope of this Forum, it seems to me important to emphasize three aspects: greater integration, cooperation and social responsibility.

As I previously referred, there are still very relevant gains to be obtained from a more effective integration of the Iberian market. To this end, it is necessary to lay aside any protectionist trends that still affect the relations between Portugal and Spain, and to create favourable conditions for a wider and reciprocal access of Portuguese and Spanish companies to the markets of both countries.

In an ever more competitive global environment, the easy response to protectionism is neither sustainable nor desirable for the well being of our peoples. On the contrary, we must continue to fight for an ever greater economic integration, not just in the Iberian system but also in the European system, marked by principles such as transparency, accessibility and fair competition.

It is crucial to take advantage of the opportunities offered by economic integration. The opening to innovation and to the World, the capacity to integrate knowledge and to convert it into new business opportunities, into new products and into new working methods is the key to success.

It is exactly in this area that I value the attitude of cooperation that this Forum contemplates and aims to consolidate.

In effect, in a highly competitive world, but also with increased complementarities and interdependencies, it is imperative to promote a culture of cooperation and of sharing between companies: increasing our capital of knowledge and developing partnerships, contact networks, common working methods and coordinated strategies for internationalization.

The strengthening of competitiveness also resides in cooperation between companies, exchange of experiences and effective promotion of common interests.

Lastly, I’d like to take advantage of this Forum to emphasize, once more, the importance that issues such as social responsibility and ethics must assume in the development strategy of companies.

The origin of the current global financial and economic crisis was heavily weighed down by the infringement of ethical standards and by the adoption of risk behaviours which did not take into account their possible negative impact on the well being of the peoples.

Many millions of people lost their jobs and their savings due to the irresponsibility and selfishness of a very few. This is not just morally criticizing these behaviours, but to determine the enormous economic and social costs caused by that infringement of ethical standards, with losses which will endure for a long time.

The absence of ethical values in the markets, in entrepreneurial policies and practices, will have been one of the main factors responsible for the current crisis. The social responsibility of companies, in its turn, may be a powerful catalyst of economic recovery: taking due advantage of existing opportunities, using and sharing fairly the available resources, generating conditions favourable to the creation and maintenance of employment, and establishing the credibility of companies’ images with the people.

These are the essential components for social cohesion and for the confidence of the economic agents, without which a sustained recovery will not be possible.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The progress achieved in Portugal and Spain bears no argument, whether at economic and social levels, whether in determinant areas for the potential of future growth, with the creation of knowledge, innovation, modernizing of institutions and renewable energies.

In spite of everything we still have much to accomplish and conquer in these areas. There is still a long path to be travelled.

Coordination of efforts, sharing knowledge and ideas, and exchange of experiences are essential in this route. I am certain that this was also the belief that motivated the setting up of this Barcelona Iberian Forum, and it is with this in mind that I hope the objectives it has planned will be fully achieved.

Thank you very much.