Trust in Portugal
The pandemic resurgence imposes once again attitudes of redoubled caution. The measures adopted by the Government, based on scientific advice and broad political consensus, are, for now, necessary to meet the requirements without jeopardizing the flow, as regular as possible, of social and economic life.
Having surpassed the first two years of the pandemic, after several states of emergency, and having recovery indicators above the European average and unemployment levels below the pre-crisis period, is surprising and speaks volumes for the correctness of the solidarity response to this crisis.
However, I would like to highlight one of the most important signs of confidence in the country’s future: the way in which foreign investors have been investing in Portugal. This does not mean devaluing what still needs to be done, namely in the qualification of people, in the modernization of institutions, in the valorization of infrastructure and endogenous resources, in the reduction of context costs and in fiscal policy. This path has been taken and would have had an important boost if the proposed State Budget for 2022 was approved.
Let us pay attention to this: in 2020 and according to a study published by the “EY Attractiveness Survey Portugal 2021”, despite the pandemic, we became part of the club of the ten most attractive economies for foreign direct investment (FDI), in number of selected projects ( 157) and in the environment responsible for the creation of 9,000 jobs. The weight of the FDI stock in the national GDP in the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, registered a growth of 15%. In 2016, the FDI value in Portugal was 116 430 million euros and, in 2020, it was 144 818 million euros. That is, a growth of 24% in five years. An increase in capital stock of more than 28 360 million euros.
It is a clear proof of confidence in the future of our country.
* PS Deputy Secretary General