The President of the Government announced that a new system of incentives for private investment is being implemented, through the Regional Secretariat for the Economy, which will provide “a very important stimulus to counter the current investment contraction occurring everywhere.”

Carlos César stated that the Government aims to stimulate new initiatives, support them and “also define, with the partnership of financial institutions, the necessary framework so that they may be able to progress.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony of 25 tourism apartments at Quinta de Santana in Ribeira Grande, which expanded the facilities of its tourist complex - an investment of 1.6 million Euros, of which 770 thousand Euros were allocated under the SIDER programme - Carlos César praised the entrepreneurial vision of its owners, who address their hotel offer at a market that is not affected by the current crisis.

“The truth is that a project like this, for its differentiation, is addressed at very specific market niches that are, precisely, an opportunity in the area of tourist accommodation.”

Alluding to the increasing importance of the tourism sector in the Region, with a significant growth in the last decade, the President of the Regional Government stressed that it is an activity that, despite being recent in the Azores, “has increasingly become associated to the sustainability of our development.”

Although the existing constraints, Carlos César said it has been possible to increase tourist flows to the Azores in a particularly difficult year.

Air fares are an example of one of these constraints, particularly in the context of the flights between Mainland Portugal and the Azores, but the President of the Government also reminded that the current price is still 20% lower than the prices in force when he entered into office. He also assured the Government will continue to reduce the prices of air fares.

Thus, “in addition to three new recently launched fares, the Regional Secretariat for the Economy will launch a tourism promotion campaign addressed at non-residents with the lowest fares at 88.50 Euros,” revealed Carlos César. 

Expressing his confidence in the future and satisfaction with the expected increase in all indicators of tourism activities, the President of the Government considers that it is still important to maintain in the Azores “an asset that it is priceless and rare nowadays, which is the adequate and balanced management of public finances.”

For Carlos César, the Region will continue to coordinate “this administration that makes proud one of the three governments of our country, which is the Government of the Azores,” with the increased availability of the bank sector to support the private economy.

Thus, it will be also possible to continue to develop policies to support regional production, exports and companies, which are some of the priority areas of the public expenditure for 2012.

“A public expenditure that is supported, on the one hand, by a careful, serious and exemplary management of our public finances and, on the other hand, we expect the  compliance of the Government of the Republic regarding the transfers under the State Budget,” said Carlos César.

Ensuring that the Regional Government will continue to pay what it owes, honouring their commitments, the President of the Government expressed his “confidence in our good work and in the way our partners – in this case, the Government of the Republic -  will honour its commitments.”