On the 2nd, a reporter from the Portuguese newspaper 'Diário Económico' interviewed figures from the government, financial, and business sectors under the theme 'Looking Ahead to 2013'.
Olli Rehn, Vice-President of the European Commission, stated, 'Currently, Portugal's structural economic reforms are progressing well, with significant results achieved in multiple areas. These achievements have earned Portugal the confidence of more international partners, which in turn leads to balanced and stable economic development and improvements in employment.'
Portuguese Minister of Economy Álvaro Pereira stated in an interview, 'Countries with strong industries are more likely to attract domestic and foreign investment.' To stimulate industrial development, the Portuguese government has drafted a new strategic plan, the '2013-2020 Reindustrialization'. He said that this plan requires not only the efforts of the government but also the joint efforts of the entire nation, including all sectors of society.
José Ricciardi, Chairman of Banco Espírito Santo de Investimento, stated that 2013 will remain a challenging year for the Portuguese banking sector. In addition to continuing deleveraging measures, support for small and medium-sized export enterprises should be strengthened. Overall, the Portuguese economy is still expected to face a slight recession in 2013.
António Mexia, CEO of EDP (Energias de Portugal), believes that in 2013, the Portuguese government should continue to focus on controlling the trade balance and external deficit, particularly by expanding exports to compensate for the decline in domestic consumption. Businesses should continue to persist with internationalization, as this is not only conducive to the stable and sustainable development of the companies themselves but also contributes to domestic economic growth.