Strategy and Action Plan for Digital Employability - Message from the Minister of Economic Affairs

Portugal is giving persistent signs of economic recovery due to the tenacity of a group of companies and entrepreneurs, who were able to keep up with the economic evolution and be successful in the challenges of a competitive market, which is becoming more and more oriented towards technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Portugal has recovered its credibility as a destination for investing (in Portugal and abroad) and today we have a more exporting, innovative, and competitive economy.

This remarkable progress of the Portuguese economy has been recognised in several rankings from international prestigious entities, particularly the 2015 Global Competitiveness Index, in the World Economic Forum, where 144 countries were analysed and Portugal comes in 36th place. We should also note the 4th place in the quality of management schools, 5th place in the number of days to start a business activity, 8th place in the availability and quality of Portuguese engineers and 11th place in the availability of more recent technologies. On the other hand, Portugal was distinguished for the fifth year in a row by Gartner as one of the leading developed countries in the provision of technologically-based services.

Portugal is, without a doubt, on the right track to assuring a more competitive economy and strongly exporting business based on the new technologies and innovation. There are, however, still many challenges to be taken up, particularly in terms of digital economy, training in human resources within the scope of ICT, the internationalisation of the ICT sector, and in general terms, greater awareness towards a digital society.

The Strategy and Action Plan for Digital Employability, which involved many public and private entities, is the result of Portugal’s answer to the challenge laid down by the European Commission through the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs,which was confirmed by the Declaration on the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs, precisely in Davos, where the 2014 World Economic Forum took place, and where Portugal was represented by the Minister of Economic Affairs.

This Action Plan defines the strategy for digital economy by 2020, as well as concrete measures for promoting digital employability within the scope of a Society based on Knowledge and Information, which is considered as priority for the current Government in terms of public employment policies, particularly those directed to young employment, and the renovation and capacity building of public administration, as well as the business ecosystem, in terms of adopting new technologies and digital tools.

Our intended goals for this Strategy and Action Plan for Digital Employability are a priority shared around the entire European space, in order to maximise the social and economic potential of ICT, hence extract sustainable economic and social benefits from a unique digital market.

I have no doubt that this is the way to go if we want to promote a more entrepreneurial society, expand the base of innovative companies with a strong exporting component, seek better investments that create more and better employment, and wish for a country in a network of international channels based on knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurship.