[vc_column][vc_column_text]The Portuguese Diaspora Council gathered on the 6th Annual Meeting to discuss the Portuguese talent and competitiveness, on December 21, 2018, at Pal\u00e1cio da Cidadela, in Cascais.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pal\u00e1cio da Cidadela was, once again, stage of debates that are considered to be challenges on the medium term to the development and strategic positioning of the country on an international context.<\/p>\n
With the presence of Diaspora Counselors, entrepreneurs and Portuguese institutional leaders, the 2018 debate panels, moderated by Fernanda Freitas, were dedicated to the following themes:<\/p>\n
– \u201cHow to\u00a0enhance\u00a0and project the Portuguese talent in Portugal?<\/strong>\u201c. The speakers of this panel will be Eli Eisenberg (Technical and Vocational Education Training \u2013 TVET),\u00a0\u00a0Ant\u00f3nio Cal\u00e7ada de S\u00e1<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Diaspora Counselor and Executive\u00a0Director at Repsol, Spain),\u00a0Alberto Carvalho<\/span><\/a>,<\/span>\u00a0(Diaspora Counselor and superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, USA).<\/p>\n – \u201cAdvantages of the context: how can Portugal\u00a0strengthen its competitiveness<\/b>?<\/strong>\u201d. The speakers of the second panel will be\u00a0John Melo<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Diaspora Counselor and CEO of Amyris Biotechnologies, EUA),\u00a0Joana Rocha Scaff<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Diaspora Counselor and Managing Director e Head of Europe Private Equity for Neuberger Berman, England),\u00a0Manuela Ferro<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Vice President of Operations Policy and Country Services at World Bank, USA) and\u00a0Lu\u00eds Castro Henriques (President of AICEP, Portugal).<\/p>\n The opening ceremony was addressed by the President of the Board of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, Filipe de Botton, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Honorary Vice-President of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, Augusto Santos Silva.<\/p>\n Augusto Santos Silva asked for the development of the Portuguese Diaspora Council has “an important Portuguese diplomatic instrument”. “I don’s forget the importance that the Council had when, in 2012, it was created in the height\u00a0of a\u00a0crisis”, highlighted the minister. Last year, \u201cone of the big achievements in international matters, in Lisbon, was the EurAfrican Forum”, said, adding that he looks to the next edition has a new “opportunity to value the relationship between our country and African continent and the role that Portugal has as a relationship pivot of the general relationship between Europe and Africa”.<\/p>\n The closing ceremony was addressed by the President of the Portuguese Republic and the Honorary President of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.<\/p>\n On the previous day, December 20, the Portuguese Counselors were received with a Welcome Drink<\/a><\/span> at\u00a0Palacete de S\u00e3o Bento, an invitation of the Prime-Minister.<\/p>\n In previous years, the Annual Meeting of the Portuguese Diaspora Council launched debates such as\u00a0Leadership and Diversity<\/a><\/span>,\u00a0Cibersecurity<\/a><\/span>,\u00a0Managing on the Digital Era<\/a><\/span>,\u00a0Cultural<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Diplomacy<\/span>,\u00a0Skills for the XXI century<\/a><\/span>, the\u00a0Development of the Audiovisual Industry in Portugal<\/a><\/span>,\u00a0Portugal as Nearshoring Go-To-Country<\/a><\/span>,\u00a0Disease Prevention and Health Promotion<\/a><\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0Smart Mobility on a Green Economy<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n READ THE CONCLUSIONS HERE<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n