Portugal’s Economists Association honours former minister

Portugal’s Economists Association has presented a former minister for Industry and Energy with the commendation ‘Economist Emeritus’.

Economist Luís Mira Amaral, who already has several decorations including the Grã-Cruz da Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul do Brasil (1996) and Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Infante D. Henrique, had served variously as Minister for Employment and Social Security (1985-1987) and Minister of Industry and Energy (1987-1991). Amaral was also a Portuguese MP representing Santarém (1995-1999).

Amaral sat on various boards including the Banco Português de Investimento (BPI), Banco de Fomento Angola, Moçambique and BCI Fomento, between 1998 and 2002.

He chaired the Executive Committee of Caixa Geral de Depósitos in 2004. As a non-executive director, he worked at EDP, Unicer, Cimpor, Vista Alegre and Repsol. From 2007 to 2016 he chaired the Banco BIC Portuguese.

The tribute highlighted Amaral’s “impact” “on the economic and industrial areas in Portugal”, after having been Minister of Industry and Energy in the X and XI constitutional governments (both led by Aníbal Cavaco Silva between 1985 and 1991).

He is currently chairman of the Audit Committee of Novabase SGPS and chairman of Busy Angels SA and Bynd Venture Capital SCR SA, and therefore involved in the investment and innovation ecosystem in Portugal.

Following the tribute ceremony, which was attended by the Minister of the Economy, Pedro Reis, there was a debate on the theme ‘“Portugal, Europe and the Global Economy: What reindustrialisation?”

Photo: International Club of Portugal: Luís Mira Amaral (Left) with Isabel Meireles (Right).