The President of the Regional Government stated today in Vila do Porto that the future Centre for Business Development and Innovation of Santa Maria falls under coherent and coordinated strategy intended to promote territorial and economic cohesion between several islands of the archipelago.

"In the case of the Centre for Business Development and Innovation of Santa Maria, the fulfilment of its duties will not only benefit the islands, but also our Region," said Vasco Cordeiro in the beginning of the Government's statutory visit to that island.

The President of the Government spoke at the presentation of the preliminary study of the project for this new infrastructure, which includes the redevelopment of the old General Workshops that were used by the aviation sector. It will feature various services, including a museum area, a business incubator as well as spaces for the organisation of promotional events, such as fairs and exhibitions.

This investment, like others in the Region, "follows a coherent and coordinated strategy that aims to achieve the goal of territorial cohesion between our islands, taking advantage of what each has to offer and turning that potential into an effective and practical contribution to the development of the Azores," said Vasco Cordeiro.

The President of the Government stressed that this project is a good example of the use of existing infrastructures to provide new services and establish new goals in order to create new hubs that will stimulate the economic and social development of the archipelago.

"The so-called General Workshops will be subject to an intervention in order to, once again, contribute to the development and progress of Santa Maria Island with the introduction of a series of new features. The new uses for the building are not only related to the preservation of memory, but also to the promotion of entrepreneurship and business dynamics," said the President of the Government.

For Vasco Cordeiro, this is another example of the use that the Regional Government has given to this infrastructure which, in this specific case, is put at the service of the economic revitalisation of Santa Maria.

In this context, the President of the Government pointed out the example of the Azores Aviation Centre, an infrastructure that has contributed to the development of the Region and the island of Santa Maria, with the increase in the number of overnight stays.