Government will be always at the forefront to support Azorean families and companies
The Government of the Azores will always be “at the forefront in the fight for support to Azorean families, Azoreans workers and to the regional companies and businesspeople,” assured the Regional Secretary for the Economy in Horta on Wednesday.
Vasco Cordeiro spoke during debate on the Plan and Budget for 2011 that took place at the Legislative Assembly and stressed that the documents submitted intend to provide as response to the financial constraints registered at a national and international level; therefore, he assured that “the Azorean businesspeople and workers know that they may count on the full availability of the Government to develop a series of measures to mitigate the effects of the international crisis.”
Thus, “the Investment Plan for 2011 estimates the amounts deemed necessary in order to continue to effectively respond to challenges either in the context of incentive schemes or in the context of the support to competitiveness.”
The numbers registered under the Incentive Scheme for the Regional Development of the Azores demonstrate the action that has been undertaken by the Government, Vasco Cordeiro considered. Under these support measures, six hundred applications have already been submitted, corresponding to total investment over 400 million Euros. Taking into account the impact of the approved projects on our economy, the figures are clear, representing five hundred applications and the creation of 1500 jobs.”
Regarding the Maritime Transport sector, the Regional Secretary for the Economy stated that the Azorean Government has been undertaking a “silent revolution” with the recently concluded, ongoing, programmed or planned interventions in Vila do Porto, Ponta Delgada, Praia da Vitória, Praia da Graciosa, Velas de São Jorge, São Roque do Pico, Lajes do Pico, Madalena do Pico, Lajes das Flores and Vila do Corvo.”
In addition, Vasco Cordeiro also emphasised the success achieved by the seasonal inter-island maritime operation, which transported “more than 130,000 passengers.”
With the regard to future investments, the Regional Secretary reminded that “the public call for tender for the new vessels that will operate on the ‘Ilhas do Triângulo’ (Triangle Islands) by late 2012 has already been launched” and the ongoing project, recently formalised with the Peniche Shipyards, “to revive the shipbuilding and ship repair industry on Pico.”
In the air transport sector, Vasco Cordeiro stressed the fact that the “Region is now equipped with a new aircraft fleet in addition to the implementation of new air transport public service obligations concerning inter-island flights with reduction of fares as well as new public service obligations for the flight connections to Mainland Portugal with reduction of fares.”
Moreover, we have also “reduced airport charges and we continue to improve flight connections in the archipelago.”
At the level of infrastructures, “several interventions will soon be carried out at the aerodrome and airports of Ponta Delgada, Lajes, São Jorge, Pico, Graciosa, Corvo and Flores in order to improve the operating and service conditions for the benefit of the Azoreans.”
With regard to the tourism sector, Vasco Cordeiro pointed out “a clear stabilisation” of the sector this year and assured that in 2011 the Government intends “to reinforce cooperative efforts with our partners, working to successfully overcome one of the great challenges the regional tourism faces: need to promote the Azores as a tourist destination based on a correct identification of our products and assets in this sector.”
Furthermore, the Regional Secretary for the Economy highlighted the work that has been undertaken by the Regional Government in order to become a partner in the resolution of challenges with which the businesspeople in the sector has been facing, as it was the case of “fundamental measures such as the moratorium on the reimbursement to the Region for incentives awarded under regional incentive schemes to support the tourism sector, whose effects will still be felt in 2011.
Vasco Cordeiro also added that “the work carried out by the Government of the Azores among the Government of the Republic successfully resulted in the allocation of national incentives to the Azorean companies and which have contributed and will continue to contribute in 2011 for a increased liquidity in these companies insofar as the amount due in these reimbursements continues to be available in its treasury.”