The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the work carried out by Local Action Groups, such as GRATER, is crucial "in all public policies for local development." In this regard, the Government of the Azores has allocated 22 million Euros to the measure aimed at the support of projects developed under the LEADER Approach of PRORURAL +.

"Encouraging the mobilisation of civil society is not just to establish entities that are able to carry out decentralised management tasks by the State, even if they do it more efficiently," said Luís Neto Viveiros. The government official stressed that "it is, above all, to create the capacity of autonomy among the individual actors and local organisations, making room for new experimentalism, creativity and initiatives."

The Regional Secretary spoke Friday, on behalf of the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, at the 20th Anniversary Gala of GRATER, held at Teatro Angrense.

"We consider, therefore, that the emergence of the Local Action Groups in the Azores, about 20 years, has reinforced what could be called a social movement of local development," the President of the Government said, adding that this move "will benefit from a financial support of 22 million Euros in the next six years."

"This financial support is very important for the continuation of the structuring of our rural territories. It provides the creation of, at least, 80 new direct jobs as well as the improvement of the living conditions of rural populations and their maintenance in these areas," stressed the government official.

In his speech, the Regional Secretary stated that, for the past 20 years, GRATER has supported nearly 520 projects on Terceira and Graciosa - its territorial area of intervention - with overall investment that reached 20 million Euros and contributed to the creation of 255 new jobs.

The main intervention areas of supported projects comprise the creation and development of micro companies, tourism, diversification of non-agricultural activities, processing and marketing of agricultural products, basic services for the population and social and health infrastructure.

"Hence, one can easily become aware of the scope and relevance of the intervention carried out by under the LEADER Approach in the harmonious development of the territory and communities," said Luís Neto Viveiros. The government official stressed that "the Regional Government has found in GRATER a partner in the mission to ensure the well-being of the population and generate wealth, always in a perspective of cohesive, sustained and sustainable development.”