The President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, welcomed today the Ambassador of Norway in Portugal at an audience, where several matters of common interest related to the use of the Sea and geothermal energy were under analysis.

"Under the European Economic Area - a partnership that also involves Norway - there is a set of incentives available" for two areas in which the Region has a particular interest, stated Vasco Cordeiro at the end of an audience in Ponta Delgada.

Vasco Cordeiro noted that one of the areas covered by these incentives is specifically related to the Sea; this process is being jointly developed with the Azorean Government. The Azores "have great expectations regarding its potential in the development of this sector in the Region.”

"The other area concerns the enhancement of the knowledge on geothermal energy, a process in which EDA is directly involved. This measure contributes to development of an Azorean asset, which, in turn, promotes our Region, stated the President of the Regional Government.

At the end of the audience, Vasco Cordeiro reminded that the relations between Norway and the Azores are not recent, pointing out the area of Tourism, a sector where the Azores offer a product that attracts the Norwegian market.

"Beyond this economic relation, there is a relation in other areas. I remind that Norway was part of the group of countries that has carried out a positive intervention in the town of Rabo de Peixe under the "Old Ghettos, new Centralities" project.