Government wants a more active and agile role for AICEP in increasing exports

The Government wants AICEP to play a more active and agile role in increasing exports, an official source from the Ministry of Economy told Lusa today, adding that the payment of compensation to the former president will be handled within the legal framework.

Ricardo Arroja has been replaced by Madalena Oliveira e Silva as president of the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP), according to a Resolution of the Council of Ministers (RCM) on Monday.

When asked by Lusa about the reason for this replacement, an official source from the Ministry of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, led by Manuel Castro Almeida, said that the aim was to “give new dynamics to the services, taking advantage of their best resources and mobilizing existing teams”.

The focus “on export growth requires a more active, agile and present role on the part of AICEP”, continued the same source, pointing to a “profile closer to companies that can streamline all processes of support for the business sector”.

Ricardo Arroja's replacement comes 19 days after he completed a year at the head of AICEP (he took office on June 4, 2024).

Regarding the payment of compensation to Ricardo Arroja, the same source added that “the issue will be handled by AICEP services, within the current legal framework”.

On June 3, 2024, the Government, which had Pedro Reis as Minister of Economy, dissolved the administration of AICEP led by Filipe Santos Costa, three days before completing one year as president (he took office on June 5, 2023).

At the time, the Government justified the change in management of the agency responsible for attracting investment with the aim of giving “new impetus and vision to AICEP”, in accordance with the executive’s program.

Now, Madalena Oliveira e Silva, who was already an administrator, takes over the reins of the agency and is the first woman to lead AICEP.