The Minister of the Sea, Ana Paula Vitorino, gave an interview to the "Jornal Economico", in which she discussed, among several topics, the Blue Economy paradigm and the ambitions of Portugal in the context of the One Belt One Road initiative, of the Maritime Silk, guaranteeing that "500 years later, the sea is giving Portugal a new opportunity to globalize and prosper".
The article, published today in the journal's supplement and authored by journalist Ricardo Santos Pereira, analyzes Portugal's participation in the Chinese connectivity mega-project, linking the initiative to the creation of an economy focused on energy sustainability and the promotion of solutions blue.
According to Ana Paula Vitorino, "the New Maritime Silk Road is one of the globalizing projects of world trade in the 21st century, conferring business opportunities that are both attractive and demanding in order to achieve a good position in its value chain".
Can Portugal capitalize on this global opportunity? "It is in our hands to focus, win opportunities and create sustainable wealth with the blue economy," he said, noting that "the Chinese government has clearly indicated that the development of the New Sea Silk Road is to be carried out in an integrated manner with the blue economy '.
In other words, the route in question aims, in its extension, 'to develop the production and trade of the economy of the sea, so that the port infrastructure and Chinese logistical infrastructure along the route will be profitable'. To capitalize on this opportunity, "Portuguese companies should position themselves not only as partners in construction, but also as part of the commercial ecosystem of the New Maritime Silk Road, aquaculture, marine LNG, renewable energy, maritime digital and sectors "he explained.
"It is a matter of time until the New Maritime Silk Road has a branch that follows the Cape Route, with branches in the Atlantic, assuming the Port of Sines a relevant role in this dynamic. It should be stressed that Portuguese is the third most spoken language in the South Atlantic and the second in sub-Saharan Africa, "he clarified.
