It was recognition of a professional and academic life dedicated to Economics, but also of the service provided to society by Adriano Pimpão, both at a civic and political level. The professor, researcher and former rector of the University of Algarve received on Monday, the 9th, the title of Economist Emeritus, awarded by the Order of Economists, in a ceremony that took place in Faro.
The auditorium of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission was practically full for the tribute to a man who, despite his fruitful, long and successful academic career, is far from being recognized just for that – suffice it to say that he was the first president of the Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome do Algarve and also Secretary of State of the first Government of António Guterres (PS) and President of the Municipal Assembly of Loulé, between 2013 and 2020, year in which he resigned from his position.
«It is always gratifying to realize that what we tried to do and what we continue to do in our lives was useful, whether on a professional level or in terms of civic and political intervention. Sometimes, we have doubts whether we are on the right path or not, with what we do, so the evaluation made by others is always important», he told the Sul Informação Adriano Pimpão, on the sidelines of the ceremony.
«I think that the criteria that are used to award this distinction and the people who were here today give me some comfort. It’s always good to hear words of recognition,” he said.
«What I am today, I owe it to the people I met. We naturally have certain skills, but we train ourselves throughout our lives with criticism, support and all that. This is how we improve our way of intervening in society. When people have training and the State spends money on them, as is the case with me and many others, we have an obligation to reciprocate with our contribution and our example, as far as possible", he concluded.
Adriano Pimpão's way of seeing the world, which made him associate the public cause with the different dimensions of his life, explains the many compliments he heard from guest speakers, including from the president of the Order of Economists.
António Mendonça highlighted that «the aim of this award is to highlight what people have given throughout their lives, not only at a professional level, but also at a civic and political level».
«It is not difficult to recognize that Professor Adriano Pimpão belongs to this group of notable members [of the Order] who affirm and honor the profession of economics, in its noblest sense of public service», he stated.
The president highlighted the role of the honoree “in the areas of regional planning, the construction of a matrix input / output for the Portuguese economy or project evaluation».
«Adriano Pimpão had a notable contribution in these areas, not only in terms of theory and methodology, but also in terms of concrete action. As Chairman of the Order of Economists, I would like to thank all the contributions that Adriano Pimpão has made and will continue to make towards raising standards of demand, rigor and ethics in the exercise of his economic activity and towards affirming the prestige of the professional class of economists» , he concluded.
More than the distinction given by the order and the complimentary words of António Mendonça, the importance of the contribution made by Adriano Pimpão was clear from the number of people who were present at the ceremony, including former minister João Cravinho, a long-time friend of the former rector of UAlg, who was invited to speak about the honoree.
João Cravinho was joined by people from various sectors, from academics to directors of deconcentrated State bodies, without forgetting mayors from various political circles, namely two mayors: Rogério Bacalhau, from Faro, and José Carlos Rolo, from Albufeira (curiously, both from the PSD, despite Adriano Pimpão having been elected by the PS, in Loulé, and having belonged to a socialist Government).
In his speech, where he recalled the «almost 55 years of friendship» with the honoree, João Cravinho stated that «it will not be easy to find a more emeritus economist in Portugal than Professor Adriano Pimpão».
Firstly, due to his professional career, which crossed paths with that of the former minister in the Office of Basic Economic Studies, where they both worked.
Later, Adriano Pimpão and João Cravinho were also part of the same Government. Soon after this government experience, the most recent Economist Emeritus recognized by the OE became rector of UAlg, an institution with which he was forever associated.
However, João Cravinho made a point of highlighting Adriano Pimpão's «huge dedication» «to public causes of a civic and political nature, in addition to his direct involvement in education».
«This is, for me, one of the most fascinating aspects of Professor Adriano Pimpão's career, as his commitment to these causes goes far beyond what would be common in the context of his academic and professional activity», said the former minister.
«Under these conditions, I have often thought that if I had to nominate an individual who was an exemplar of sustainable development, since before the concept existed, I would have Professor Adriano Pimpão as the number one candidate. He is a man of sustainable development and having done it the way he did deserves our admiration and gratitude,” he concluded.
At Monday's ceremony, José Apolinário, president of CCDR Algarve, and Luís Serra Coelho, president of the OE's Algarve Regional Delegation, also took to the stage.
José Apolinário spoke of the «recognition on everyone's part of what was the path of civic intervention, as an economist and as a professor» of the honoree, remembering that he was linked «to very important steps of what the University of Algarve was affirming».
Luís Serra Coelho, also a university professor at UAlg, considered that «Professor Adriano Pimpão contributed indelibly to the growth and affirmation of this delegation of the Order of Economists».
The titles of Economist Emeritus are being awarded by the OE as part of the celebrations of the Order's 25th anniversary, to people «who have distinguished themselves with a professional and civic career of recognized merit».
Photos: Hugo Rodrigues | Sul Informação
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