Belém || Two Portuguese businessmen who have built successful careers in the USA were honoured by Portuguese President Cavaco Silva at Belém Palace on December 23.
Both John Melo and José Maria Ivo were named Grand Officers of the Order of Entrepreneurial Merit and described by Cavaco Silva as “two Portuguese living in the USA who have excelled for their remarkable careers in the areas of engineering, management and technological innovation”.
John Melo is the CEO of Amyris, a renewable products company that focuses on providing “sustainable solutions for a growing world”.
As the Portuguese President stressed, the company recently “made headlines for producing biofuel with a low level of carbon which was recently used during commercial flights for the first time”.
José Ivo works for Bechtel Mining and Metals, “the largest American construction company, and one of the biggest in the world.
“He has experience in chemistry, mining, gas and oil and was in charge of the expansion of our Neves Corvos mines,” he said.
All in all, the men’s “talent and merit was an inspiration for Portuguese people who face challenges and difficulties”, Cavaco considered.
Caption: From left: Entrepreneurs John Melo and José Maria Ivo are congratulated by President Cavaco Silva
Cavaco awards American-Portuguese businessmen
