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Portuguese and Portuguese Descendants,

From Lisbon, from where the discoverers of new worlds departed, more than 500 years ago, I send my greetings to all the Portuguese and Portuguese Descendants on this National Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities.

Europe is going through a time of deep challenges and great decisions that will mark the future of an entire Continent, peopled with millions of citizens. A European country opened to the World, a Country that brought the World to Europe, Portugal is a land of opportunities.

The Country has changed much in the last few decades and has nowadays favourable conditions for investment: favourable policies for entrepreneurial initiatives, infrastructure, talented people, and human capital.

I appeal to the Portuguese in the Diaspora and to Portuguese Descendants that, wherever they may be, assert themselves as Portuguese ambassadors. Thanks to the prestige they have achieved in their countries of destination, due to the effort and dedication placed on their work, the members of the Diaspora can perform an essential role in this moment of collective responsibility, when great demands are placed upon our Country.

Portuguese Communities are a symbol of the capacity for integration of our people, of their attachment to work, of their opening to dialogue with the communities where they reside. In each country, they provide prestige and ennoble the name of Portugal.

For exactly this reason, the Diaspora must be mustered to support our Fatherland, which is also theirs, attracting investments, conquering new markets, strengthening Portugal’s external positive image, promoting the new Country that we are and want to be.

In my recent trip to Timor, Indonesia, Australia and Singapore I included, in each of those countries, an encounter with the Portuguese that live and work there. This I insist in including in each and every visit abroad that I carry out, as a sign of my appreciation and relation of proximity that I have proposed establishing with the Portuguese that live abroad. Apart from its being a duty, it is also a commitment that I assumed since the beginning of my first mandate, and from which I shall never abdicate.

It is fundamental that we alter the way we view the Portuguese communities in the Diaspora. As I stated a few days ago to the Portuguese in Australia, the rhetoric of nostalgia has to give way to material acts, palpable gestures that show Portugal’s respect and gratitude before its children spread across the World and that, at the same time, involve the emigrant communities in a common project.

This common project is Portugal. We count on you to make it go ahead.

My very best thanks to you all.