President seeking clean energy investment
BY MAURILIO SOTO
The News
Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco da Silva met with President Enrique Peña Nieto Thursday, during the Mexican leader’s first official visit to the country.
After the public ceremonial event the two leader were set to hold a private meeting.
Mexico and Portugal will sign trade agreements, which Peña Nieto says will boost social development, job creation and economic dynamism in both countries.
The last Mexican president to visit Portugal was Ernesto Zedillo in 1998.
Peña Nieto stressed the importance of the opportunity Portuguese companies have to invest in Mexican tourism development and the clean energy generation of electricity.
“Keep in mind that Portugal is a country which is undoubtedly a world leader in the development of renewable energy,” Peña Nieto said. “Eighty percent of the electricity generated in this country is through renewable sources, and with this reference and this experience there lies an opportunity to develop projects of this kind in Mexico.”
Peña Nieto also encouraged the revival of the direct Mexico-Portugal air route saying, “It would promote economic and commercial development.”
Peña Nieto said that Mexico could benefit from Portugal’s experience in maritime ports. Mexico has projects to expand or duplicate port capacity and Peña Nieto extended an invitation to Portuguese companies to get involved in their management.
He acknowledged the willingness and readiness of Cavaco da Silva to “renew and strengthen” the relationship between Portugal and Mexico.
In turn, Cavaco da Silva said that political relations between Portugal and Mexico are “excellent” and described Mexico as a “strategic partner” of the EU.
President Cavaco Silva confirmed his attendance at the Ibero-American Summit to be held in Veracruz this December.
This visit of President Peña Nieto marks the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Portugal and Mexico.
Thursday, the Mexican and Portuguese presidents closed a business seminar to meet with Portugal’s Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.
Peña Nieto will also visit Rome for an official visit to the Vatican, and Spain.
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