Carlos Mendes Gonçalves' measure for the next Government

Every week, sometimes every day, we see new examples of the world’s dizzying pace and its volatility and unpredictability. It is therefore tempting to ask those who govern us and represent stability, including policies, predictability, involvement and incrementalism to give us control and the possibility of making decisions with a lasting impact on workers and the community. We will all defend this, we know it, and what is missing and important is to deliver on it.

I will therefore use this opportunity in another sense. It has taken us 43 years to build a business group with around 420 colleagues in a town with just over 3,000 inhabitants and in a municipality with just over 5,000, Golegã. Is it possible? Yes, it is, and we are one of many examples that demonstrate this. Is it challenging? Yes, it is, and I believe that we can contribute to ensuring that, together with local, regional and national public entities, it becomes a little less so. I will not talk about economic support or tax incentives for companies located in the country beyond the (outskirts of) large cities, not because they are not important, particularly when what I mentioned in my opening words is fulfilled.

I will speak before:

a) Listen to us, involve us and trust us in how we can contribute to the design and implementation of policies that aim to improve the conditions for the installation and development of the business fabric in a more cohesive way, throughout the country ;

b) If efforts are made and investments are made in improving four areas that are essential to the quality of life, well-being and attractiveness of territories to guarantee the existence of people and communities for companies to develop, namely:

1. Access to quality Education and Health, with greater openness to innovation and experimentation of models that, based on the public sector and available to all people, can better accommodate different realities in different territories, including low-density ones , with, eventually, participation of the social and private/business fabric in the conceptualization and operationalization of services;

2. Access to Culture and Sport, through the promotion of incentive and stimulus programs aimed at increasing and diversifying the offer, for different ages, in territories with lower density, enhancing possibilities for intra and inter-territory partnerships and empowering local associations, groups and clubs.

I am certain that, if this is the case, we will be, together, joining forces and resources to create more conditions and possibilities for well-being, social and territorial cohesion, valuing the territory and promoting more sustainable economic development in our country .

In this as in other projects you will always count on us.