Azorean Government creates "Digital SME Distinction" to encourage companies investing in digital economy
The Vice-President of the Government stated in Ponta Delgada that "the digital economy is increasingly unavoidable and indispensable for the sustainability" of Azorean companies. So, in addition to the support available under Competir + for investment in new Information and communication technologies, the Government decided to create the "Digital SME Distinction."
Sérgio Ávila spoke at the opening of the workshop "Digital Economy at the Core of Business," stressing that the measure "aims to award distinctions according to the adoption of good practices in the digital field." The government official pointed out that the Regional Government intends to "encourage and give prominence to companies that invest in this area ant to entrepreneurs who share the view that the world is increasingly digital."
Created under the @PME Project and included in the Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Business Competitiveness, the "SME Digital Distinction" aims to increase the number of Azorean companies in the scope of the digital economy.
The Vice-President pointed out that in an "archipelago territory such as the Azores, far from the markets, digital technologies allow regional companies to enter into global value chains."
"The challenge we are launching here is, essentially, to increase the number of Azorean companies in the digital economy," Sérgio Ávila said, expressing confidence that entrepreneurs will respond positively to this challenge.
"Much of the effort we need today to optimise production and sales promotion may be substantially reduced through the use of these new tools, with substantially increased results," the government official said, adding that this is "a privileged way to attract more customers and reach out to more customers."
In his speech, Sérgio Ávila reiterated that "economic growth must be consolidated," defending that, "as change is constant and the conditions under which economic activity takes place are extremely fluid, it is important to find the best solutions; the digital offers the best solutions."