Economy Minister Pires de Lima today stated that "I believe in this economic recovery and I think that in the times that are coming the economic recovery will be at a higher level than the many current predictions suggest."
The joyful evangelist was in Famalicão, Braga during a no doubt riveting commemorative ceremony for the 25th anniversary of the Technological Centre for the Textile and Clothing Trade of Portugal.
Pires de Lima added that his confidence in the country's economic growth "is not based on illusions," but the fact that he is from "the real economy." "I know the strength of our entrepreneurs, our businesses, our workers," he waxed, noting that there is "a wave of entrepreneurship that is helping to change Portugal."
Regarding the textile sector, Pires de Lima, a drinks industry man, said it was "crucial to the economic recovery that again is lifting Portugal."
The minister emphasised particularly the growth of textile exports, which in 2013 amounted to €4,250 million, up 4% on the previous year, sadly a year which marked a low point in the textile trade with many factories closing and thousands of workers laid off - but why spoil a impressive sounding statistic...
Pires de Lima reminded his enthralled audience that over the next six years there will be €8.5 billion available to increase the economic competitiveness of the country, and he warned that those funds "have to be put to good use."
Meanwhile back in Lisbon, the Socialists had a different opinion as they believe different things and see the same figures in a different light. The party reckons that the Portuguese economy is on a 'path of stagnation' and pointed out that the first quarter unemployment data released today hardly reflected a golden time for all, and it expressed concern about possible new tax increases contained in the soon to be released state budget.
The socialist MP Pedro Marques, despite the ruling coalition considering the unemployment data as 'very positive,' found that this viewpoint was far from the reality of his world and “that the indicators are worrying and the economy is heading for stagnation.”
Unemployment 'fell' by more than 40,000 jobs in the first quarter, primarily due to a sudden drop in the active population seeking work and showing up on the statistics.
Marques said there “another 60,000 people who unfortunately stopped looking for work or emigrated in that quarter.”
The National Statistics Institute estimated today that the unemployment rate in Portugal was 15.1% in the first quarter, 2.4 percentage points below the same period of 2013 and 0.2 percentage points down on the previous quarter.
