Bristol hosts Green Technologies Round Table Event

On the 21st October, Bristol hosted a visit from the Portuguese Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Antonio Santana Carlos. During his visit to the city the Ambassador was invited to the official naming ceremony of a new quayside in the city’s historic harbour. The quayside has been named ‘Porto Quay’ in celebration of over 20 years of twinning between Bristol and Porto.

Research shows that Bristol has traded goods with Portugal since 1309 and in the spirit of further developing these economic links the Bristol Environmental Technologies & Services Partnership (BETS) invited the Portuguese Ambassador to a Round Table event to discuss developments in the Green Technologies sector. The event was held at the Lord Mayor’s room at Bristol City Council and involved representatives from organisations across the South West region, including SWRDA, Regen SW and UK Trade and Industry.

During the event, Professor Bernando vo Cruz, Director of the Portuguese Trade & Investment Office (AICEP), stated that, ‘In 2001 Cornwall was producing more renewable energy than the whole of Portugal, since then there has been a 43% increase in renewable energy sector in Portugal’. Professor Cruz went on to illustrate how policy developments and openness to any renewable energy source have enabled this rapid growth to occur. The Ambassador was keen to see the development of best practice exchange between Portugal and the South West develop in this area and praised Alan Bailey, the Chair of BETS for his work in developing such an innovative partnership. AICEP is now involved in a series of seminars across the UK that are aimed at highlighting innovative economic developments in Portugal. It is hoped that Bristol will be instrumental in hosting a similar event from Portugal in 2010, which will focus on the renewable energy sector in both countries. For further information regarding this event or BETS please contact Robin McDowell, Economic Development Co-ordinator at Bristol City Council.