The head of the PSD/CDS-PP government left this message in Newark, in the state of New Jersey, at the end of his trip to the United States on the occasion of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.

"Today more than ever, we need investment in Portugal, so that we can have a stronger economy", declared Luís Montenegro, during a meeting with the Portuguese community in Newark, at the centennial Sport Club Português, the last point on the program, immediately before traveling to Lisbon.

According to the Prime Minister, the Government wants to "facilitate and encourage investments that want to be made in Portugal", and "help those who see Europe as an opportunity for a market of over 500 million people, so that we can be the gateway for many Portuguese companies or even American companies to enter Europe".

When asked about what facilities it has to offer to emigrants who want to invest in Portugal, he told journalists: "We have a program that aims to simplify licensing, which aims to eliminate bureaucracy for those who want to invest in Portugal, and we also have a more attractive tax policy".

"If we bring together good human resources, if we bring together lower taxes, if we bring together greater responsiveness from our Administration, we can be, firstly, the destination for many North American investments and, secondly, also a bridge for entrepreneurs, whether Portuguese or even North American, to enter Europe and try to conquer new markets", he added.

The Prime Minister had already made this appeal for investment shortly before, also in Newark, at a gala dinner for CENSE – Construction Entrepreneurs Networking Seminar and Education, an annual initiative that brings together entrepreneurs from the construction sector and is in its 10th edition, organized by the Portuguese-American company Media Consult.

"We are open to making it easier, more agile, more flexible, the investment that you can also make in our country", he promised.

"Believe me, if you do this, you are certainly also looking for good business, looking for good options, good investments, but you are also showing, I have no doubt, an element of gratitude for your roots", he argued.


Portugal in fashion

Luís Montenegro commented that "Portugal is in fashion", highlighting the importance of North Americans in tourism in Portugal.

"The country needs more human resources, it needs more investment and one of the ways we have to promote the country is, precisely, also to bring people to Portugal", he considered.

The Prime Minister referred to Portugal as "a country that discovered a large part of the world", adding: "And today we, as Portuguese, want that part or parts of the world to discover Portugal".

He also asked for the contribution of Portuguese-Americans so that "Portuguese companies can enter the United States".

In Newark, as in Mineola, Long Island, where he was on Tuesday night, Luís Montenegro told the emigrants that Portugal "has its doors open" if they want to return, and he would like the new generations of Portuguese to not need to emigrate.