The President of the Government urged the Horta Chamber of Commerce, as well as chambers of commerce, to "take a more proactive position to stimulate cooperation among companies as well as the promotion and defence of the products and services offered by regional companies."

For Carlos César, it is necessary to "safeguard the partnerships of our businesspeople with good investors and entrepreneurs and not with speculators and people who come here just to take advantage of credit facilities."

The statements were made by the President of the Government after welcoming the new board of Horta Chamber of Commerce at an audience held at the Sant'Ana Palace on Friday. The meeting was attended by the Regional Secretary for the Economy, Luísa Schanderl.

For the President of the Government, there is an awareness that with the difficulties felt in the country nowadays "there are companies operating just because they are in the Azores. On the one hand, consumption levels have decreased, although the drop was not sharp as in Mainland Portugal; one the other hand, regional companies have at their disposal a range of support measures and special programmes, which contribute to the sustainability in times of adversity."

Therefore, continued Carlos César, "it is important that the chambers of commerce be entities that not only promote these programmes, making them accessible to companies, but also stimulate their companies and encourage businesspeople. We do not need a Chamber of Commerce just to say that everything is bad; common sense is enough for that. What is important is that the chambers of commerce be able to mobilise entrepreneurs, encourage them and integrate them into the support mechanisms, which are not few, and are now available in the Region."

At the audience held on Friday, the Government signed a protocol with the Chamber of Commerce to hire technicians for companies. The Government will grant the necessary funding.