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The President of the Republic sent a message to the organizing bodies of the 2008 Global Entrepreneurism Week, which is starting today, in Lisbon.

Following is the text of the President’s message:

“It is with great pleasure and interest that I associate myself to the movement you represent, a movement which aims to awaken, encourage and muster, especially with the new generations, the entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and initiative. The ever greater recognition of what are the key tools of the progress of countries, and not just in the field of the economy.

At a time when the concept of employment for life is becoming ever more obsolete and in which the operation of the markets and of labour relations is deeply changed, entrepreneurism gains new reasons to develop and fructify.

We are witnessing, in Portugal, a growing will to assume risks and to start personal entrepreneurial projects, also as a means to reach a greater degree of autonomy and of personal fulfilment. This anyway reflects an improvement in the conditions of context for entrepreneurial initiatives and activities.

We have, however, several challenges to overcome:

Firstly, to fight our psychological trend for conformism and resignation. Few have as yet exchanged the foreseeable stability of employment, even if badly paid, for an own initiative with the possibility of higher compensation. It is thus necessary to encourage daring and ambition, as well as the capabilities to understand and control risks.

Secondly, it is necessary to allay the social pressure that impends upon entrepreneurs. I refer, specifically, to the stigma of failure. We must accept that failure is very often an integral part of the learning process required to reach success.

Finally and because, generally, people are not born entrepreneurs, this attitude must be part of the awakening of the younger people and, more than that, they must be trained, from their early days, and equally throughout life, to develop their competences.

This Global Entrepreneurism Week which is now starting is an initiative that comprises millions of young people and which is taking place, simultaneously, in more than 50 countries. All of them more than ever aware of the transforming power of innovatory ideas and of their application in business models and value creation. It is an excellent opportunity to dignify such important values as self confidence, perseverance and the will to build and conquer, values which I, also on my part, have endeavoured to promote with Portuguese youth.

I congratulate the organizing bodies for the number of activities of the programme which will be carried out amongst us. I wish them great success.
I am certain that they will contribute to a more confident and more entrepreneurial Portugal.

Aníbal Cavaco Silva"