Loulé and Romania want to strengthen economic, social and cultural ties

In the words of Ioana Bivolaru, «there is always room for improvement and potential for development»

Ioana Bivolaru, Romanian ambassador to Portugal, was received last Friday, March 17th, at the Main Hall of the Town Hall of Loulé, by the mayor Vítor Aleixo and by representatives of the Romanian diaspora in the municipality of Loulé. The objective is to reinforce the economic, social and cultural ties that unite the Algarve municipality and the country of East.

Bilateral relations between the two countries were in focus at this meeting. And if Romania currently has the second largest migrant community in Europe in Portugal, Loulé is the third municipality in the country that receives the most migratory flows.

According to the words of Ioana Bivolaru, «there is always room for improvement and potential for development», despite the «excellent close relationship that exists, both on the part of the Loulé municipality due to the way it treats the migrant community», and in monitoring from the embassy itself to these citizens.

One of the areas that this diplomat believes could be fundamental in this cooperation is the economy sector, whether in Romanian investments in national territory or Portuguese businessmen in Romania. Digital, telecommunications, energy and tourism are the sectors in which Romanian entrepreneurs invest most in our country. But when we talk about Portuguese investors in what is now the second largest market in Central-Eastern Europe, other areas may emerge.

«It is not a very close country, but it could be an option for many who want to invest there. We have received many interested parties at our embassy willing to settle in our country and there are many Portuguese businessmen willing to collaborate with Romanians to compete for various projects», explained Ioana Bivolaru.

In addition to language issues, as part of the intergovernmental program for teaching Romanian, Ioana Bivolaru also spoke of the importance of itinerant consular actions, resumed in this post-pandemic period.

But alongside the existence of «good businessmen with successful economic activities» in the business fabric established in the municipality, in the region and in the country, Vítor Aleixo also mentioned the workers and many Romanian citizens who face difficulties.

«This is a municipality where there is a lot of wealth but also some poverty and there are some Romanians», he said, considering that these people have also deserved social support from the Municipality of Loulé.

In this context, Paula Medeiros, from the High Commission for Migration, referred to Loulé as an «example to follow in terms of immigration policy».

«It is the best example of interculturality, of perfect symbiosis», he said.

Moreover, the DOINA association, based in Almancil, which has been instrumental in this connection between the two communities, both in supporting social integration and in preserving Romanian culture.

Also present at the session was Carlos Silva Gomes, president of the Municipal Assembly of Loulé, recalling that this was one of the first local authorities in Portugal to elect a deputy of foreign origin: the municipal deputy Elizabeta Necker.

«The participation of these citizens in the electoral lists is more and more necessary», he underlined.

 



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