The Strategic Council for Open Economy (CEIE) met today for the
second time «to continue the work on the internationalisation of
the Portuguese economy through the promotion of foreign investment
and export growth», wrote the Prime Minister's office in a note.
The meeting was chaired by Prime-Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, with
its members (Ministers and Presidents of business organizations)
and their personal representatives.
Four reports on mechanisms (i) to improve financing of the
economy, (ii) to simplify administrative procedures and (iii) tax
administration as well as (iv) to develop a coordinated and
effective external economic policy were presented and their 55
recommendations discussed. This reports «will be made available in
the Government site within three weeks, with a revised
timetable».
This meeting «confirmed the implementation of half of the agreed
measures before the next Council [on September 12th], and the other
half over the next ten months. A further set of measures will
remain under discussion among the personal representatives. In
addition, the group of personal representatives was tasked with
monitoring the agreed measures and helping with the next review of
the external assistance program».
At the end of the meeting the Prime-Minister said: "Today's
meeting proves the commitment of this Council to press ahead with
the needed reforms for strengthening the competiveness of our
economy on an international scale, by putting in place the
mechanisms to ensure financing of enterprise and sustainable
export growth. Our personal representatives will closely
monitor and evaluate the progress of these measures in order to
ensure a successful delivery before we meet again in a few months.
In particular they will help evaluate structural reforms before the
next Troika review".
The CEIE - Strategic Council for Open Economy (Conselho
Estratégico de Internacionalização da Economia) was formed in
October 2011, further to a resolution of the Council of Ministers.
The Council is in charge of evaluating public policies and private
initiatives, and their articulation aiming at the
internationalization of the Portuguese economy, the promotion and
attraction of foreign investment and effective development
cooperation. CEIE, meets on a quarterly basis, is chaired by the
Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, and includes the Ministers of
Finance, Foreign Affairs, Economy and Agriculture, together with
the Presidents of the Confederations of Industry (CIP), Tourism
(CTP), Trade (CCP) and Agriculture (CAP) and the the Associations
of Entrepreneurs (AEP) and Industry (AIP). The work of the Council
is prepared and its decisions monitored by a group of eleven
personal representatives and the Agency for Portuguese Foreign
Trade and Investment (AICEP) serves as its secretariat.