018 gave us contradictory signals about the future of the Portuguese textile and clothing sector. On the one hand, exports continued to grow and companies found it difficult to hire new employees, which demonstrates an unquestionable vitality. On the other hand, it’s equally clear that this growth has lost momentum since the middle of the year and that the international environment of our main export markets is now more uncertain. To anticipate the difficulties, we have to be much more attentive.

The Portuguese ITV carried out one of the most remarkable contemporary case studies of the developed countries’ reindustrialization. It has demonstrated that it’s possible to reconcile traditional activities with technological innovation and design, providing a differentiated service that allows a continuous rise in the value chain. However, it’s important not to lose sight that, even with the emphasis on competitiveness, it’s vital not to neglect the classic factors on which this competitiveness must be based: access to finance and the costs of labour and energy, as well as a business-friendly tax environment.

Unfortunately, in the past few years, for a variety of political and ideological reasons, as well as a total absence of economic policy for the country, we are witnessing a constant degradation of those said classic factors, which continue as the foundations of competitiveness. In fact, a house without foundation ends up collapsing, no matter how beautiful the walls and roof are.

And the worse is that, despite having dominated the competitiveness’ critical factors – such as embracing fashion, design and technological innovation –, we have no room for maneuver in the classic production factors, since it’s the State and the political power that have to intervene in the cost of labor and energy and to allow access to finance, not to mention the creation of a business friendly environment, where tax attractiveness and stability are preponderant.

All this led me to the conclusion that while we rejoice in the sector’s long cycle of prosperity, it’s good not to lose sight of the fact that the future is uncertain and challenging, so we will have to increase our attention, our commitment and our dynamism to face 2019, if we want it to at least be as good as the years that preceded it. If it’s only up to us, I’m sure we will be able to do it!