Interview for ODN, Newspaper in Hong Kong - Portuguese feeling about Greek situation

1. What do you think of the new word "PIIGS"?
Can you imagine the citizens of Hong Kong interested to being part of "PIIGS" group? Definitely not.
Nobody would like to be called as "PIIGS". "PIIGS" is no more than an sentence which economists prefers to describe the countries integrated in EU since 80's, and increased their own external debts until today. So "PIIGS" can be compared to the pig animal, who eat everything and not save any food for the coming times.
According to the "P", where I live now, its totally necessary to produce value to have money and pay the external debts. If we look the eurostat last report in the last quarter, Portugal increased 1% the GDP comparing to the last quarter in 2010. Inside UE it was the second best performance after Sweden. UE and EuroZone had 0,2%. This "P"ig actually is made by rubber, save money in their own back and is working hard in the Gym...

( http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-04062010-AP/EN/2-04062010-AP-EN.PDF )


2. How is your country's economy recently? What is your prospect of EUR?
This is the time for portuguese economy, because politically the Government and opposition is together finding solutions, and mainly the Euro is being cheaper and cheaper... which allow Portugal to push the EuroZone increasing highly the economy by tourism and exports. I could describe the huge influence of Portuguese economy in South American countries or even to contribute for German industry, but let see for example the portuguese speaking market.
Brazil or Angola which had more than 20% GDP growth in 2007 and more than 10% in 2008 or even Mozambique, São Tomé e Principe, Macao, Cape Verde, Guine Bissau and East Timor. All of these countries are performing very well and Portugal is contributing directly for that with a cheaper Euro. Brazil for example, has 5% GDP growth in 2009 and our exports to Brazil increased 73% in the first Quarter of 2010 to the same in 2009. This year exports to Angola, until April 2010, were more than 21.6% comparing to the last year. With these statistics and Euro being cheaper, I can only being positive and see the best future for Portugal. Am I wrong?

( http://www.indexmundi.com/angola/gdp_per_capita_(ppp).html )
( http://economico.sapo.pt/noticias/exportacoes-de-portugal-para-angola-disparam-216_12914.html )
( http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/angola/angola_economy.html )


3. Since the Greece problem was exposed, how have you changed your personal portfolio?
Definitely not change any personal portfolio. The situation of Greece is simple and portuguese citizens are intelligent enough to not be influenced by lobbyists trying to show from the media that everything is going down. Greek State has a huge influence on the Greek economy, is time to cut it and let the Greek market being balanced to the new international trends. Greece needed these reforms long time ago and is better to change now than in the future. Actually, have we seen all European countries before being so together to solve the economic issues and supporting each other as we are doing now? Is time to realize that when this is happening, EU is being solid and consistent and not the opposite.


4. Which kind of investment have you made for your wealth management this year?
First of all, I have to say that I belong to an excellent generation which born in 80's and in the democracy. In any sector (not only in Football with Cristiano Ronaldo), we never being so well refereed and known abroad. To situate easily my case, I have 26 years, an economics degree and 4 years of professional experience in 7 different countries inside EU (thanks to European Union that allowed me to do that easily) and other countries as Turkey or Uruguay. This year I was back to Portugal and in 1 month I could find a job through normal system, being an apartment in the capital, and allow to save 50% of monthly/salary.
In the future I want to start my own business but I am not an example as the majority. However I believe that if every portuguese citizen turn off the external negative mood, stand up and start to operacionalize for their own entrepreneurship goals, all can achieve whatever they want because portuguese economy is an excellent platform for that. In Portugal there is no entrepreneurship burocracy, we can start a company in only one hour and we have a huge number of State/private support programs to do start up.


5. As an European, how did the "debt crisis" affect you (or your family) in your daily life and work? Please also state the biggest change affected you.
The State is handling the external public debt situation, but somehow affected me and my family. The biggest change was this month, which our salary taxes increased 1%-1,5%, 1% for all consumption taxes and my family house credit rates is increasing since last year. However did not have any impact on our savings.