International Route for Madeira's Economy

Funchal, 29th of January, 2007 – On the 25th January, the Services Section of the International Business Centre of Madeira took office at Madeira’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This representative body of the companies operating in the IBC of Madeira is made up by five members from different companies which are Frederico de Gouveia e Silva (President of the Section), João Dias, Bruno Vieira, Richard Benn and João Lara.

During the ceremony, Frederico de Gouveia e Silva pointed out that presently Madeira is facing the challenge to continue the high level of economic growth of the last decades. “The only way to maintain that level of development is through the internationalization of the regional economy” he said.

Frederico de Gouveia e Silva believes that Madeira could compete in the international market mostly due to its very competitive International Business Centre. He also believes that Madeira will even be more competitive if the IBC of Madeira and the local economic sectors could find ways to work together in order to create and assure a strong international image as a business friendly region.

To achieve that, the Services Section of the IBCM drew up three strategic objectives: in the first place, to increase the perception at national and regional levels of the International Business Centre as a fundamental tool for the development of Madeira and Portugal; secondly, to lobby pro-actively with the regional and national governments in order to take adequate measures to make the IBC of Madeira more attractive for international investors; and finally to enlarge the number of associates of this representative Section.

Addressing the audience, Francisco Santos, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry assured that the chamber will defend the International Business Centre “as a strategic tool that will allow Madeira to win the challenge posed by the globalization”.