Prime Minister António Costa said this Wednesday that “there is no developed country that does not have a strong construction industry”, arguing that the sector needs to be supported by more activity and its internationalization.
“Contrary to what students of economists often say, there is not a single developed country that does not have a strong construction industry,” said the head of the government of the municipality of Alandroal, district of Évora.
António Costa defended that for the development of the country it was necessary to “rebuild a strong construction industry” and “continue to support its internationalization efforts”, and that the sector “could have more activity” in the Portuguese economy.
“This is absolutely essential for our development,” he stressed.
The Prime Minister spoke at a meeting of the Near Government initiative, which took place in the middle of a section of the future Sines/Caia (Elvas) railway line in the municipality of Alandroal.
In his speech, the head of government emphasized that with Ferrovia 2020 and the National Railway Plan, the government will “endow the country, economic decision makers, builders with a horizon of predictability in the implementation of the railway.”
“And now we can have an analogy on the railroad with what was on the highway in the 1980s, and what was needed to create a construction industry that, after the 2008 crisis, survived the vicissitudes, but on which we depend. a lot,” he said.
Together with several mayors of the region in the audience, António Costa defended the construction of a goods terminal to service the future railway line in the Alandroal area, emphasizing that the region is not “only existing opportunities”.
“The very idea that we might have a terminal has already sparked interest in installing new capabilities,” he stressed. According to the prime minister, the technical viability of the new terminal has been demonstrated, and the economic “essentially” also “there is an economic basis that ensures viability”, so it is necessary to “take the next step and move on.” forward”.
“But this is not enough to continue working with the terminal. We need to do the rest of the work, which is to say that we will have this terminal, and we have the ability to locate activities that make full use of this terminal. “, He said.
“It is very good that trains are passing, but it is important that trains can stop not only to carry passengers, but also to stimulate the economy and contribute to the transformation of this territory,” he added.