Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, in his opening speech at Hannover Messe, highlighted the significant transformation that has occurred in the Portuguese economy over the last twenty years, the result of a successful focus on technological education and the happy combination between available talent and conditions of security and stability that make Portugal a singular destination to invest and work.
For the Portuguese Prime Minister, “being the guest country at this year’s fair is a recognition of the value of the existing relations between Portuguese and German industries. But, above all, it demonstrates confidence in the potential to further strengthen these ties. It is with this confidence in the future that I thank our companies for coming to Hannover to represent the best of Portugal and the excellence of our industry”.
The Prime Minister also noted that more than 550 German companies are operating in Portugal, working in close cooperation with Portuguese companies and with a long-lasting relationship with the Portuguese scientific system.
Because of this mutual knowledge and the excellent operational integration, German Direct Investment in Portugal increased by more than 50% in just five years. Nor is it a surprise to the many German companies that regularly buy our products and grow with our services. Germany is our third export market, with a robust increase of 16% over the past five years.
António Costa stressed that “For all these companies, Portugal makes sense” for its highly qualified workforce, industrial know-how, reliability and adaptability of the corporate sector, openness to foreign investment and foreign trade, recognised in international rankings and for its robust innovation system, with a long tradition of cooperation with companies.
“In Portugal – as in Germany – industry and innovation go hand in hand: our engineering solutions industry is at the top of national exports of goods, representing one-third of the total and supplying 222 countries; moreover, almost 40% of the total goods we export are medium-high technology, with an increase of 36% in the last five years. Today it is no longer just Made in Portugal; it is Made in and Created in Portugal”, said António Costa.
The Prime Minister also said that “in the current situation, when the imperative of strengthening the strategic autonomy of the EU is mobilising European companies to relocate in Europe part of their offshore production and part of their non-European imports, Portugal is the right destination.”
“We have the know-how and the capacity, we offer the whole range of services and moulding products, we are much closer to the German time zone, and we have excellent transport infrastructures. We also have security and stability and share common values with Germany”, guaranteed António Costa.
Portugal stands out in the mould-making industry but also mechanical engineering and tools, metallurgy, mobility and automotive, aeronautics and space, textiles, technical plastics, production technologies and renewable energies. According to the Prime Minister, Portugal has all the conditions to build the future of the industry and seize the opportunities of the double green and digital transition.
“Portugal is the right trade partner for the challenges and opportunities of the twin transition. The twin transition is the first structural change for which we are well prepared”, noted the Prime Minister.
“As for the green transition, national investment started long ago, so we were not surprised when the European Commission positioned Portugal as the EU country best prepared to meet the 2030 climate goals. Renewable energy represents 58% of our electricity production and we are committed to reaching 80% by 2026. We are a world reference in green energy solutions. The pipeline of new investments grows every day, with green hydrogen at the forefront. We are implementing new solutions at the Port of Sines to contribute to the security of the energy supply in Europe. And in the medium- and long-term, given our outstanding starting position, our excellent natural conditions, the pipeline of new investment projects and the planned interconnections, Portugal will be a major exporter of green hydrogen.”
“As for the digital transition, our country has gained a new centrality: last year, the Ellalink submarine cable connected to the Portuguese coast, linking Europe and South America; Just a few days ago, the Equiano cable also arrived in Portugal, this time connecting Europe to South Africa; And next year, the new 2Africa cable will ensure, from Portugal, the connection from Europe to Asia. There is no other country in the world connected through direct undersea cables to all Continents. This translates into high-quality, fast, stable and secure connections, which attract data centres and other digital businesses.”
The Prime Minister also reinforced the idea that, in addition to infrastructure, Portugal has the third-highest rate of engineering graduates in Europe as well as a dynamic innovation ecosystem that attracts Research and Development and service centres from all over the world.
“In Portugal, we have digital innovation centres and technological free zones for testing and demonstrating new technologies, we produce key components for the microchip industry, and we develop innovative production technologies in the fields of smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Portugal is a digital country, and you will be able to get to know our dynamic ecosystem and our innovative production technologies here at the Hannover Messe”, the Prime Minister said.
António Costa concluded his speech by stating that this is the time for a change, the time to redefine the European growth model: “We must act to guarantee the security and strategic autonomy of the European Union. This is the time to intensify the links between our industries and to harness the potential of joint work between large companies and SMEs, both in Portugal and Germany. These links have proven to be mutually beneficial and will continue to be so. Portugal makes sense today, and Portugal will make sense in the industry of the future, as a supplier; as an investment destination; as an innovation partner.”
Climate change, economic freedom, technological progress, the business world, industry, environment, and economic transformation were other key topics of the German Chancellor’s speech. Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, defended free trade as a lever for progress and growth, with the reduction of poverty in the world through successful globalisation.
At the official opening ceremony of Hannover Messe 2022 also participated Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister for Education and Research, Belit Onay, Mayor of Hannover, and Kal Haeusgen, President of the Association of Industrial Mechanical Engineering.
