Stability equals competitiveness; competitiveness equals investment
Portugal’s prime minister Luís Montenegro has been extolling Portugal’s virtues as a country in which to invest/ do business and be safe.
Speaking in Vila Nova de Famalicão (Braga district) this morning, the PM described the country as “a beacon of stability” politically, socially, and financially, emphasising that this is one of the main factors in the country”s competitiveness, along with security.
In the town to inaugurate new facilities at the Centre for Nanotechnology and Technical, Functional and Intelligent Materials (CeNTI), the PM even went so far as to call Portugal “a benchmark” for financial stability in the European Union…
“Who would have thought that a decade ago, coming out of a recovery process in which we had to ask for external help, today we are, within Europe, a benchmark for financial stability, with one of the best performances in the European Union!” he quipped.
For the prime minister, this is one of the key competitiveness factors that the country “cannot ignore or waste”.
Furthermore, he emphasised, Portugal’s image as “a safe country”, a reality that must continue to be guaranteed, as it is “another important economic asset”.
In fact, given the country’s geostrategic location, its investment in energy autonomy and its commitment to knowledge and its application in the economy, Portugal “has everything to win”.
In his speech, the head of government recalled that Portugal is facing a cycle of investments worth many millions of euros in the area of defence to stress that this is also a niche that companies can take advantage of.
“There is an opportunity here. I don”t decide on companies’ investments, but it is worth looking at this sector,” he said.
It was a speech that harked back to the government’s election pledges: it will continue to “relieve the country of a tax burden that is painful for people and companies” and “invest a lot” in simplifying and reducing the bureaucratic burden, guaranteeing this is a cause that (it) “will not let go”.
For the prime minister, it is necessary to continue stimulating interaction between knowledge and companies so that the country can “look to the future without fear”, pay good salaries, and retain talent, writes Lusa.
The new CeNTI building covers a total area of 6,600 square metres and involves an overall investment of €5.4 million.
It has 19 laboratories, four linked to CeNTI”s recent battery investment.
Also noteworthy is the regenerated cellulose fibres laboratory, which is dedicated to developing advanced fibres produced from wood or biomass with low environmental impact and high performance.
CeNTI has been active for 18 years and has more than 200 researchers.
LUSA
