Sérgio Ávila highlights entrepreneurs' confidence in the Region's economic growth
The Vice-President of the Government highlighted the "very significant increase in private investment" in the Azores, reflecting the "growing confidence" of entrepreneurs in the growth of regional economic activity.
"Therefore, I can announce that, to date, 661 new private investment projects have already been presented under the new incentive scheme, Competir +, which will represent a business investment over 290 million Euros," said Sérgio Ávila.
The Vice-President spoke Friday at the opening of the 4th edition of the ExpoAçor fair, stressing that "these investment projects provide for the creation of 1330 new direct and permanent jobs."
"But the confidence and dynamics of our entrepreneurs are also reflected in the creation of new companies," Sérgio Ávila said, announcing that "the Azores were the region of the country that registered the highest number of new companies for every company that closed in the past 12 months."
Only in this period, "462 new companies were created in the Azores, which clearly demonstrates the dynamics of the Region and the high entrepreneurial skills of the Azorean business fabric," said the government official.
The Vice-President underlined that the data "are undoubtedly another sign of confidence in the consolidated recovery of our economy." In this regard, he said this reality was "once again confirmed this week with the announcement that the GDP - Gross Domestic Product grew 2% in the second quarter of this year, after a 2.2% growth in the first quarter."
According to Sérgio Ávila, economic growth "may reach an even higher increase in the second half of this year," considering the latest known indicators, namely "the increase in private consumption, investment and production of goods and services."
"This year, the continuous and positive evolution of this series of indicators will allow us to consolidate the increase in the disposable income of families, the increase of the Gross Domestic Product in our Region, the growth of employment and an even greater reduction of unemployment," said the government official.
The government official also stressed that the positive outlook assigned to the Region by Moody's Agency this week is "a further sign, although already expected, that the Azores have been able to consolidate their path of economic growth and financial stability."
Even though "the results encourage us, they should do not deceive us because we are never satisfied." In this context, the government official stressed that the Azores "have known how to work on common matters, regardless of different points of view resulting from the responsibilities of each party involved."
Defending that "consuming what is ours is essential for the progress of our economy, especially when we have products and services of the highest quality," Sérgio Ávila highlighted "the investment and innovation effort" of regional companies as well as the importance of internal and external promotion.
The AçorExpo 2017 fair, installed at Alameda do Mar, falls under the "Azores Export" Plan, an initiative developed by the Regional Government, through the Society for Business Development, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores. The event features more than fifty stands displaying products and services certified with the Azores Brand.
Currently, 123 companies have joined the Azores Brand and there are about 2,300 certified products.