The President-elect of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau opened his speech in Belém with an expressive “I bring you greetings from the people of Guinea”. Using a common Guinean expression General Umaro Sissoco Embaló thus conveyed greetings of friendship to the Portuguese.

The intention to start a new path together in our common 500-years old history expresses clearly expresses that the new authorities of Guinea-Bissau have no problems assuming our common past. In the previous presidency, headed by José Mário Vaz, and despite the governmental instability, a single feat had been achieved: for the first time, in times of freedom, a president of the republic ended a term without being removed from office. But political instability would not allow an experience leading to progress.

A People recently freed from the shackles of a single party that allowed itself to stop time for a while now wants to build a future together with other Peoples of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), a future based on education, health and on the country’s infrastructure to achieve with his brothers in history, culture and language what President Embaló rightly calls shared prosperity.

A new Guinea-Bissau living today in absolute democratic normality, that ended the era of political instability and welcomes all its children who want to contribute to the sustainable development of the country and now welcomes also foreign investors who, respecting the identity of the country, want to find new business opportunities but contribute also to the economic and social development of this Fellow nation.

And if at times, the Western world tends to analyze the evolution of democracies in other continents with the same parameters that apply, for example, to Europe, we must nonetheless respect history, accept that there are periods of transition when firm resolve is necessary to restore the authority of the State and the respect for democratic institutions and the legitimate choices of each people. There are single or hegemonic parties that don’t accept changes and don’t look for ways to boycott the progress of their People in the name of vested interests.

With democratic legality and state authority now restored, Guinea-Bissau is currently experiencing a moment of perfect harmony between the President of the Republic, the Government of the New Majority and Parliament. And they all work towards making Guinea–Bissau bigger and to build the happiness of Guineans.

Elected by the will of the People, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, has the mission of promoting the renovation of the State’s foundations, ensuring the maintenance of the political stability achieved so far to finally create the conditions for the implementation of significant poverty reduction policies, in its multiple dimensions, creating more opportunities for employment, income and well-being for all Guineans, in a reinforced rule of law, with more rigour, discipline, justice and equality. This mandate aims to transform Guinea-Bissau into a more modern, fair, prosperous and respected country.

Portugal can be the partner Guineans would like to call the gateway to Europe and, under this special partnership, Guinea-Bissau aims to be Portugal’s gateway to West Africa and the platform for Portuguese exports in the African western sub-region.

The maintenance and expansion of the Portuguese language in Guinea-Bissau and the sub-region, the enhancement of human capital, through the implementation of deep reforms in education and health, the consolidation of the State, through deep reforms in Public Administration and Justice, the firm fight against transnational organized crime, for the restoration of internal security and the good name and dignity of Guineans, to give credibility to the country’s external image, making Guinea-Bissau a respected partner in the Community of Nations are the immediate battles to fight.

Guinea-Bissau wants Portugal to be a partner with a firm presence in all sectors of development through investment, providing know-how and experience in the fishing sector, in the mining sector – which is still in its inception stage – in infrastructure, organic farming, marine and forest economy and in the manufacturing industry.

As of now, said the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the country fraternally opens its internal market to Portugal and the vast ECOWAS market with 380 million consumers.

It’s up to us to take advantage and help, simultaneously, Guinea-Bissau to develop harmoniously.