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

I am indeed pleased to attend the inaugural act of Leica’s new manufacturing unit in Portugal, an important marker in the already long lasting presence of this company in our country and a particular motive of rejoice for the county of Vila Nova de Famalicão.
Leica is an almost centenary company that, in some way, has been a privileged witness to World history. A joint union of the inventive and visionary spirit of its founders, and with an exceptional technological capability, Leica creations have as a distinctive label the excellence and the perpetuity of its models.
The prestige of the marque was built upon the idea of a device that is built by highly skilled artisans, whose precision and technical knowledge have the power to transform its user as more than a diligent photographer, but rather as an artist.
Generations of talented professional and amateur photographers have chosen Leica cameras to record for posterity images of great journalistic, documentary or anthropologic value, which are nowadays an integral part of humanity’s inheritance.
Attributed to Cartier-Bresson, a noted user, regarding his transition from painting to photography, the statement that “the adventurer in me felt obliged to witness, with a device faster than a brush, the world’s scars”.
A century after the invention of the first portable compact camera, the exceptional fact to emphasize is that Leica’s contemporary models, although responding to the market’s novel demands, continued preserving the original technological matrix on which is based their legendary reputation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We celebrate, this year, four decades of Leica’s presence in Portugal. As a universally recognized marque, few are aware that a large portion of their coveted products have been processed by the capable hands of the Company’s Portuguese employees.
Residing in the soul of each camera produced in Portugal is the skill and the precision of Portuguese artisans who, with dedication and rigour, daily confirm the marque’s almost mythical reputation.

Most of this company’s employees joined it more than a quarter of a century ago, many of them since its opening.
At a time when labour precariousness has become an almost current practice, I must greet the vision of entrepreneurial leaders that elect the longevity of the link with their employees as one of their main competitive advantages. Because it is largely within this link that the secret is hidden regarding the assets of knowledge and specialization, crucial ingredients of the technological excellence and added value comprised in each product.
All our entrepreneurs should give special regard to this concept. Precariousness and, via its means, the maintenance of low salaries, is not the solution for the problems of the Portuguese economy, especially when it is used to conceal insufficient leadership, organizational default or lack of innovation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Even with such difficult perspectives that are placed before us, either internally or externally, I am confident in the potential of the Portuguese economy. I am certain that our country has the necessary conditions to be successful and that we will grow out of this crisis stronger and better able to compete in a global world.
The important investment made in this unit, located in a region strongly affected by unemployment, is a sign of confidence in the future of Portuguese economy and an indicator that the Country offers good investment opportunities.
Cautiously preserving the heritage of past success, this new Leica unit in Famalicão will increase its production capacity, guarantee a greater level of quality and bring new impulse to the creation of employment.
The attraction of new quality investment – or the strengthening of the existing investment – particularly of direct foreign investment, is a crucial factor for the resolution of our environmental and structural issues.
I want, for this reason, to leave a word of recognition to all public powers and private bodies that believed in the possibility of Leica continuing in Portugal, and fought for this to become a reality.

I equally greet the vision of a group of investors, to whom the accumulated capital of four decades of experience, knowledge and specialization has been evinced as a strategic asset, not easily replicable elsewhere.
And it is precisely this climate of stability and confidence that is required by Portuguese economy and society. A climate that is favourable for investment – and thus for employment – is, more than ever, a vital condition for our development.
I thus consider as a priority that Portugal continues investing in its international positioning of attracting foreign investment. Leica’s presence in Portugal is an example that must be reflected in the show of excellence of the country’s and its workers capabilities.

Directors of Leica,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Leica’s presence in Portugal is a motive of pride for us all. The inaugural act of this new unit is a reason to have confidence in this region’s development potential.
I congratulate the Board, the managers and all the employees, in whose hand lie the responsibility for Leica’s inimitable reputation, for having materialized this new investment. To you all I wish the best of success.

Thank you.