Chinese Byd is interested in opening factories in Portugal. Would have “important impact on GDP”

Chinese ambassador in Portugal showed this week interest in investing in the country. It is good news, but there are also concerns.

China’s ambassador, Zhao Bentang, in an interview with this Monday, said that “there are ideas” from companies such as car manufacturer Byd in “invest in Portugal ”.

All this is because “Portugal an important country”, since “has a large market”, not only for being integrated into the European Union, but also for belonging to the CPLP.

“It’s beneficial. We are in a fragmented world block world and China has already realized that to enter the European market it can be more important today to have factories within Europe,” he also commented with the former Minister of Economy Manuel Caldeira Cabral.

The economist talks about a positive impact on GDP. “This type of factories has a value added of 40 to 45%. In the case of electric, it may even be higher,” he says.

“If they produce the same as AutoEuropa, There may be an important impact on Portuguese GDP. These areas are of 6.5% in GDP – this year’s expectations – and, in addition to contributing to exports and its increase, contributes to added value, ”says José Couto, president of the Automotive Industry Manufacturers Association (Afia).

But there are some dangers: by accepting the entry of the Chinese industry, Portugal is diverge from Brussels, that does not welcome a close cooperation with foreign economies.

“Europe must be available to welcome foreign investment, namely Chinese. But we argueAnd it is very important that they do not import components, but resort to the European industry to buy here“, Warns José Couto. Thus, the best for Portugal is” is not to privilege A, B or C “, but” keep open “.