The Regional Secretary for the Economy said on Friday that there is a "regional interest" in the renewal of Horta seafront that goes far beyond the interest of the city and even the island itself.

The idea was conveyed by Vasco Cordeiro during the signing ceremony of an ARAAL cooperation contract between the Government and Horta City Hall for the conduction of studies and projects deemed necessary to the urban renewal works in Horta seafront.

According to the government official, the intervention in Horta seafront, which also includes the urban renewal project, is part of a "coherent and properly coordinated strategy to boost our relationship with the sea and the way how each of our islands may benefit from that."

Vasco Cordeiro explained that the interventions taking place at Horta port with the construction of a passenger terminal, already at a final stage, the respective infrastructures on the northern area of the bay and the ongoing interventions on São Jorge or at Madalena port should be regarded in the context.

As for the urban renewal project for Horta seafront, whose study will be supported by the Government in the amount of 325,000 Euros, the Regional Secretary for the Economy said that this intervention, "which is aimed at the urban fabric and road network," will contribute "to the full transformation of Horta's relationship with the sea."

With an integrated and coherent recovery strategy, we will create infrastructures, but we will also renew public spaces and roads in the urban area that is closely linked to the sea, added Vasco Cordeiro.

The government official defended that our relationship with the sea cannot be limited to the construction of infrastructures; it also important "to encourage this relationship."

"It is necessary to create the conditions to enhance this potential which also comprises an economic dimension. And this can be accomplished not so much with a physical intervention, but with the creation of conditions to foster sea-related activities as well as economic activities, which may also bring added value," defended the Regional Secretary for the Economy.

Stressing that the importance of this work goes beyond Faial, Vasco Cordeiro noted that in order to promote the assertion of our Region, for example in the area of nautical tourism, it is important "to develop the area specifically design to embody" this investment.

 According to the government official, this is what the Government is doing little by little when "provides our islands with better conditions to assert themselves in the regional whole, thereby benefiting the entire Region."

The support granted under this contract signed between the Government and Horta City Hall aims to support several costs at the level of technical advice, masterplan, urban project and implementation projects concerning the urban renewal works of Horta seafront.