English - EMRC

I nterview
Jorge Rocha de Matos
President of AIP
(Portuguese Industrial Association)
Lisbon, December 2007
■ Dialogues: : In your opinion, what were
the main results of the EU-Africa Business
Summit?
Rocha de Matos: : The EU-Africa Business
Summit was an important moment for the settlement
of a new dynamism in the relations
with Africa. This dynamism considers the regional
agreements of economic partnerships
as well as the promotion of an effective integration
of African countries in the
global and regional economy.
The EU-Africa Business Summit
represented an opportunity for
the African and European business
leaders to develop approaching
mechanisms and to debate on
“thematic round table” subjects
such as commerce, investment and
development of resources and infrastructures.
The event was also
important for the reinforcement of
reliable relations at political, institutional
and business level.
■ Dialogues: Throughout the last
decade EMRC has organised numerous
international initiatives to expand
business linkages between Europe and Africa.
How do you see these initiatives?
RdM: AIP–CE considers it very important
to promote this type of initiative by organisations
that represent the civil society and
particularly the business sector. These organisations
play a fundamental role in the promotion
of relations between the two continents.
It is at the level of decentralized cooperation
between companies that it is possible to establish
durable relations and to share common
interests.
■ Dialogues: What actions can be taken in
order to strengthen the relations between
Africa and Europe?
RdM: At a political level, the European Union
has developed a strong cooperation process
with the private sector through working
José Amaro Tati, Governor of the Angolan Province of Bié, discussing business
opportunities with Portuguese entrepreneurs at the AFIF Forum.
meetings and action instruments that have
taken place throughout almost one decade:
to start, the first historical EU-Africa Summit
in 2000 in Cairo under the Portuguese Presidency
that gave origin to the Declaration and
the Cairo Plan of Action; then the launching
in 2001, of the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development (NEPAD); in 2002, the creation
of the African Union (AU) and; in 2005, the
European Commission adopted its communication
on “Strategy of the EU for Africa”,
which was approved by the European Parliament
and Council. It’s consensual that it is
really important to deepen this framework
of cooperation and common action. Europe
can have a very important role in the field of
education, training, R&D and countries like
Portugal with long and strong relations with
Africa can and should be important partners
of this Continent, in order to minimize the
constraints to its development. I believe that
the European Union will benefit politically,
economically and strategically if it gives
more attention to Africa and if it knows how
to find the right instruments for cooperation.
I am sure that the business community of both
continents is an active and very interested
part of this partnership for the development
and the competitive affirmation of Africa in
the global economy.
Jorge Rocha de Matos and Idit Miller
■ Dialogues: As President of the AIP, do
you see the promotion of relations between
the Members of your Association with Africa
– mainly the PALOPs (African Portuguese
Speaking Countries) as a priority?
RdM: We have strong relations with Africa,
and in first place with PALOPs.
The conferences, the training
courses at the public and private
level, the business missions in different
sectors and the approach to
associative structures similar to
ours are some of the many initiatives
that AIP-CE has developed
with the African continent. Although
PALOPs are the main partners
of the AIP-CE in Sub-Saharan
Africa, our collaboration is not
restricted to these countries.
For example, we have the case of
South Africa, where we have one
of the biggest Portuguese emigrant
communities, and which is also
one of our priorities. We also develop initiatives
with other North Africa countries. ■
About AIP-CE
Counting more than 75.000 direct and indirect
associated members, Portuguese Industrial Association/Entrepreneurial
Confederation has
consistently worked towards the improvement of
the Portuguese economy’s competitiveness, with
special focus on organisational and technological
modernisation of its SMEs. Aiming to represent
and defend the Portuguese entrepreneurs’
interests, AIP-CE is known for its unique position
in the associative movement in Portugal. It
is active in providing a wide range of services
for its members, for instance by organising international
trade fairs and conferences or promoting
international expansion.
Quarterly - Spring 2008 -