Centeno says “space for Europe is growing too big” – TVI24

The Minister of Portuguese Finance, Mario Centeno said in New York on Tuesday, at a meeting with investors that the “space for Europe to grow is very big.”

we still have many issues that need to be discussed and resolved, but the space for Europe grow is too large “ , said Mario Centeno.

the responsible part in the Pan European Days, a Portuguese scholarship initiative that promotes meetings between investors and companies in the PSI 20 (the main index of the Lisbon stock exchange) in New York and Boston, as well as a set of lectures.

Speaking about half a million people left the country during the crisis, the minister recalled that “historically all emigration surges are followed by a demand in the labor market.”

“the demand will come,” he said.

the official also noted the advantage of the European Union on the US as a diversified, which lower the risks for investors, and gave as an example the labor market .

in Europe, we are much more mobile in terms of work than in the uS. (…) The salaries in Mississippi are two-thirds of which are in Boston. Wages in Lisbon are a third of which are in Paris “ said.

In the same panel, dedicated to the investment theme in Europe, also attended the director of the European Investment Bank, Thomas C. Barrett, and the Belgian Finance Minister, Johan Van Overtveldt.

the discussion came to the subject of international trade agreements, which have been increasingly questioned in Europe .. and the United States

it’s the biggest mistake we can do at this point [adopt a protectionist policy] Close borders will only have an effect: reducing the yields on both sides of the border “ , Centeno said.

in a second step the panel also participated Jose Maria Ricciardi, executive chairman of Haitong bank, which acquired BES Investimento last year.

When asked by the moderator as the Portuguese Government would see the Chinese capital entry into a large and healthy Portuguese bank, Mario Centeno ensured that there would be no problem.

[foreign investment] is very important to us. In a market perspective, I see no problem with this “ , the minister said.

The afternoon and Wednesday will be entirely dedicated to meetings between companies and investors. the same happens on Thursday, but already in Boston.

the Portuguese companies present are Altri, BPI, CTT, EDP, Galp Energia, Jerónimo Martins, Millennium BCP, Mota Engil, in REN, Sonae and the Navigator Group.