Economy Minister defends “deep partnership” with US, but calls for “investment rather than tariffs”
Pedro Reis' statement came after the US embassy said that the US and Portugal share the Atlantic. "They may call it cod and we call it codfish, but we fish in the same waters", said the diplomat.
At the inauguration of the first building of the data centre in Sines — which is backed by a US investment of 8.5 billion euros — the Minister of the Economy defended the opening up of the US economy to the world and the building of a “deep strategic partnership” between the US, Portugal and Europe.
“What a good week to say that it’s good for the world economy to be open to the world, to say that American investment is very welcome in Portugal”, said Pedro Reis at the official opening ceremony of the Start Campus data centre in Sines.
“It’s a good week to remember that we want to build a deep strategic partnership with the United States, in a market that is essential for everyone and that the United States is also a benchmark for technological giants, but also for all other sectors”, said the Minister for the Economy, the day after the application of reciprocal customs duties on goods imported from the US.
Diplomat assures that countries “share the same border”
After diplomat Douglas A. Koneff, chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Lisbon, assured that Portugal and the United States “share the same border”, the Atlantic Ocean, the Minister of Economy responded: “What a good week to tell the world economy that there are no borders”, referring to Donald Trump’s new tariffs. “You can call it cod and we can call it codfish, but we fish in the same waters”, joked the chargé d’affaires.
According to Pedro Reis, this campus in Sines shows foreign investors that Portugal gives “continuity” to projects, because it was started under the previous government led by António Costa. “It’s a coincidence in a pre-election period”, he pointed out, also praising the work of public agencies such as Aicep.
“What a good event to witness how fundamental a commitment from the US and Portugal and Europe is. Trust instead of estrangement, investment instead of tariffs, barriers instead of blockades and liberalism instead of protectionism. This is the way forward for the world economy,” said the Economy Minister to an audience full of representatives from the US embassy.
“Sines provides future anchorage for new submarine cables”
The Minister for Infrastructure used this technological project, created with private capital, to warn of the need to reduce bureaucracy in licensing. “Moderate the risk of investments with regulation that guarantees fairness. Europe has had closed regulation. There is a lack of capital in the telecoms sector, which is unable to make the investment it should”, warned Miguel Pinto Luz.
The minister considers the data centre in Sines “essential” for the “ambition to be bigger” and listed the connections to the port of Sines, the largest in the country, with 50 million tonnes of cargo handled per year. In his opinion, it is ready for more submarine cables in the future.
“Sines is consolidating itself as a strategic point in this hub with advanced technologies and sustainable solutions. Sines is a favourable platform for the future mooring of new submarine cables. Between 97% and 99% of digital communications today are carried out via submarine cables. On the other hand, the Port of Sines is in the top 15 European ports on the international stage”, said Miguel Pinto Luz.
