"It is important to work so that the economy and employment can gain new momentum" on each island, says Vasco Cordeiro
The President of the Government expressed today his confidence in the ability of each of the islands to return to the normality that has been disturbed in recent months by the COVID-19 pandemic, assuring that the Azorean Government is working to provide "a new impetus" to economic activity and employment in the Region.
"What matters now is to work so that the economic and employment can gain a new momentum and resume the path of development and progress that we were following in the Region," said Vasco Cordeiro after a meeting with the Mayor of Angra do Heroísmo.
According to him, this meeting with Álamo de Meneses, which was part of a series of contacts that have been made in recent days, was an opportunity to analyse the recovery phase in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, "with special emphasis on the economic component and renewed confidence in this area."
"This meeting was very useful, not only for the exchange of views on how the Municipality mobilised resources to respond to situations arising from this pandemic but, above all, for the perspective of future development," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government stated that, in this new phase, there are matters concerning local authorities, there are matters concerning the Regional Government and "there also matters requiring joint action from both parties."
"Renewing this confidence in the ability of each of our islands to resume this normality is an important message that comes out of this meeting in terms of future perspectives," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.
After the meeting, the President of the Government stated that the Agenda for the Social and Economic Recovery of the Azores is being completed, a document that includes the contribution from social partners and political parties. As he emphasised, "it intends to guide the Region through this new phase of our collective life."
"This document will also be put to consultation in order to collect the contributions from local authorities," the President of the Government said, recalling that the island of Terceira, which has not recorded any positive case of infection with the novel coronavirus for some time, has, like other islands, already concluded its reopening process.
Vasco Cordeiro's visit to Terceira Island is part of a series of meetings and visits that have taken place in recent weeks on the island of São Miguel in areas such as education, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, economy and employment, following the gradual and progressive lifting of the restrictions implemented in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the President of the Government will travel to Flores and Corvo, where, among other initiatives, he will meet with the Mayors of both islands. The visit to Flores will include the works of the Poças Port and the construction of the emergency protection wall of the embankment of Lajes Port, which was destroyed by Hurricane Lorenzo in October.
Vasco Cordeiro will then travel to the other islands of the archipelago, where this round of contacts and visits will continue.