And the more I follow our business fabric, the more I believe that the country is finally gaining confidence, scale, and ambition to play in the big leagues.

The recent edition of the Export & Internationalization Awards is more than a ceremony. It is a mirror of the creative energy that is redefining our future. There, each distinguished startup represents the best that Portugal has to offer: an extraordinary ability to transform challenges into opportunities and to bring value abroad. It is not just about exports, it is about vision, courage, and talent.

And the numbers confirm that we are not talking about isolated phenomena. Portuguese exports grew 14.3 percent in September, maintaining a consistent pace throughout the year. They are consolidating themselves as an essential pillar of our economy and one of the engines that most contribute to our international positioning.

What I am especially excited about is how our startups are leading this change. Portugal already has more than five thousand startups, responsible for 28 thousand jobs and almost 3 billion euros in turnover. And the most impressive thing is that about 70 percent of these companies did not even exist five years ago. They were born globalized, they were born digital, they were born exporters. It is a new generation that is not afraid to think outside the box or outside the country.

I see here something much bigger than statistics. I see a generational transformation. I see young Portuguese leaders who have worked in multinationals, returned to their SMEs, and brought with them experience, demand, and global ambition. This is changing the Portuguese business culture from within.

The government is now talking about reinforcing this dynamic with 10 billion euros through the Reinforce Program, with robust financing lines and specific support for exporting companies. But, more than funds, what Portugal needs is strategic vision. And at this point there is something that seems crucial to me: diversifying markets.

That is why the agreement with Mercosur, which could eliminate tariffs on 90 percent of products and open a market with more than 300 million consumers, should be seen as a priority. Brazil, for example, with 200 million inhabitants, represents only 5 percent of our exports. The margin for growth is gigantic.

Portugal is changing. It is not a slogan. It is a finding. We are building a more open, more qualified, and more ambitious economy. And if we continue on this path, supported by the talent of our startups and the new generation of leaders, I sincerely believe that in the coming years we will see Portugal assume an economic role that for decades seemed unattainable.

The challenge is not to lose this rhythm. The future is calling for us. And this time, we are prepared to respond.