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PAM Panel on External Trade and Investments in the Mediterranean TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION 28 June 2012 aicep Portugal Global Investment and Trade Promotion Agency Investment promotion – attraction of FDI to Portugal; Trade promotion – support to internationalization activities, specially of SME’s; More than 7.000 companies, representing more than 90% of total portuguese exports, have a key account manager at AICEP and are continuously supported in Portugal and abroad, through offices in more than 40 countries. www.portugalglobal.pt The road behind XXth century facts that hindered growth • Political and economic isolation: reduced international exposure for companies, reduced entrepreneurship; • Protection of local production, with a negative impact on international competitiviness; • War effort in the 60’s and 70’s; social and economical cost of decolonization; • Currency devaluation as basis for competitiveness; • 80’s and 90’s economy depending on low cost, low skills products (textiles, clothing, shoes); • Major increase in competition from EU enlargement (countries with low cost, high skills, proximity to larger markets) and China entering WTO; • Low interest rates leading to investment in non-tradables and reduction of savings rates. Exports of goods and services Ongoing structural changes – product diversification Travel and Tourism Machinery, Equipment Other services Transportation Vehicles Textiles Minerals Common Metal Plastics, rubber Food, beverages, tobacco Pulp and paper Other goods Chemicals Shoes Stone, ceramics and glass Wood and cork Live animals, animal products Vegetable products Optics and precision Relative % weight in total exports 2011 1986 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% Exports of goods and services Ongoing structural changes – market diversification 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Relative % weight in total exports Jan/Apr 2012 Exports of goods and services Closing the trade deficit – Jan/Apr 2012 • • • • • 16,000 14,000 12,000 Record high exports; Record low trade deficit; Surplus with Third Countries; 160% coverage in Services; 96% coverage in total exports. 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 -2,000 EU Third Countries Exports News from the battlefront – is growth sustainable? Exports of goods 1990 2011 11.000 companies 20.035 companies 15.400 M € 60.660 M € M€ Exports > 50 # Companies 106 • The exporting base is growing significantly; • Close to 60% of exports come from large companies, more immune to funding problems; • SME’s: resilient through crisis; rapid recovery, to accelerate if working capital funding is available; • Even small companies diverting focus to exports as a result of internal market outlook; • Incentives schemes focused on innovation and tradeables are increasing results. % Exports 47% 25 to 50 140 12% 1 to 25 3.289 36% <1M 16.500 5% Current situation Investment Assessment: • Investment decisions depend essentially on microeconomical issues and the necessary attractiveness factors are present; • Investors with access to international funding and that seek external markets have in Portugal a low cost, high skills, reliable infrastructure location; • Existing foreign investors are maintaining investment decisions even through crisis. Shortfalls: • Overall image effects of macro situation are delaying investment decisions and creating difficulties that affect perceived atractivenness by new investors. Current situation Exports/Imports – 96,2% in Jan/Apr Assessment: • The number of companies pursuing international businesses is increasing; • Young talent entering SME’s, with language and management skills is creating a large number of rapidly growing export companies, in high margin segments; • A substantial part of total exports comes from large companies, with access to international funding, enabling export growth. Shortfalls: • Difficult access to funding for SME’s is not allowing working capital to meet the demand needs – stabilization of finantial markets will immediately result in added exports. Structural Reforms Labor market Labour Market 0% increase in minimum wage (any increase will only take place if the economic and labour market evolution justifies it and upon agreement with the Troika partners) Business environment Competition Business Environment Competition Making easier the usage of the “Single Balcony” and improve the assistance capacity to the SME More effective Competition Law An improvement in the professional qualification regimen “Zero Licensing” replaces pre-approved permits by a start of activity statement. Easier access to the market, by auctioning new radio wave frequencies for wireless broadband and reducing the mobile termination fees A reform of the firing regulations to allow the introduction of new rules for laying off with just cause Adopting the “Simplex Exports” programme, including measures to expedite the companies VAT exemption for exports and simplify the indirect exports procedures. Adopting new measures to increase competition in the fixed-line telecommunication market New rules for working hours, including the adoption of “bank of hours”. Wages adjustments according to the company productivity Reinforce the measures to improve the companies access to financing tools and exporting markets Court House: measures to expedite the resolution of judicial process in the courts Reduction of rents in sectors shielded from foreign competition Phased elimination of regulated electricity tariffs Structural Transformation of the Portuguese economy Open to foreign investment and to the challenges of international competition Fully integrated in the Single European Market Political consensus on reform program and stability culture Competitive location for physical and human capital Structural Reforms Agenda Confidence, credibility and justice Troika’s assessement of the assistance program First Evaluation (August 2011) Openness, competition and competitiveness Entrepreneurship, innovation and labor market flexibility Second Evaluation (November 2011) Third Evaluation (February 2012) Fourth Evaluation (June 2012) Limited State and economic democracy • Local authorities aplying the reforms as recomended. • Adjustment process faster than expected; • Unemployment is a concern. Structural Reforms Privatization program as a flagship in the agenda Energy retail and production Energy retail and production Air infrastructure Water distribution Insurance Seguros (1) 2011 Seguros (2) (3) 2012 Q1 Electricity distribution 2013 Q2 Air transport Q3 Railway logistics (1) Sale of “Caixa Geral de Depósitos” participation of 1% (2) Concession (3) Expected completion date by “Caixa Geral de Depósitos” Q4 Mail distribution Television broadcasting THANK YOU [email protected]