Regional Government launches "Empreende Açores" programme to support creation of new companies
The Vice-President of the Regional Government said today that the programme "Empreende Açores" (Azores Entrepreneurship), presented this morning, is not just a measure to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit, but a programmed that intends "to go beyond the traditional the traditional theory of entrepreneurship."
Sérgio Ávila pointed out that, apart from instilling a business idea, "the goal is to support its implementation on the ground, the effective creation of the company and, at a later stage, monitor the development of its activity, opportunities and adversities."
The programme "Empreende Açores" was created with the purpose of stimulating entrepreneurship in the activities related to Azorean products and is targeted at the unemployed.
Hence, this initiative will support the unemployed who wish to create their own employment on their own initiative, through the creation of a company whose activity is targeted at the production or marketing of regional products.
In order to put "Empreende Açores" into operation, a protocol was signed today with the Regional Cooperative for Solidarity Economy (CRESAÇOR), the entity that will be in charge of supporting applicants in the provision of training and counselling during the star-up phase of the company and even in the subsequent follow-up of the company's activities.
Given the "extensive experience" of Cresaçor in the area training, entrepreneurship and methodologies for the creation of Business Plans, funding of business projects and their respective implementation and follow-up, Sérgio Ávila is sure that the cooperation established with this entity will be successful.
The Vice-President revealed that with the launching of this programme, "38 measures have already been put into practice under the Azorean Agenda for Employment and Competitiveness," which corresponds to the implementation of 60% of the measures provided in the document.
"However, the results are far more important than the quantitative performance of measures,” underlined Sérgio Ávila. “According to data recently released by INE (National Statistics Institute), more than 1,795 Azoreans have found a job in the second quarter of this year and we have less 944 unemployed."
The Vice-President of the Regional Government also mentioned that the number of unemployed registered at regional employment centres has decreased, noting the "reduction of 1,200 people in the last three months."
For Sérgio Ávila, as these are "provisional results," we should not regard them with euphoria. Nevertheless, they are the sign that we are on the right path to continue implementing other measures to support the unemployed, families with difficulties and companies facing problems, with increased dynamics and strength."
The Vice-President reiterated the idea that with the implementation of the measures provided in the Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Business Competitiveness, the Government intends "to create a combined effect of all these cyclical and structural measures in the short-term and, therefore, consolidate the regional production sector."