President of the Government presents Economic Revitalisation Plan for the island of Terceira
The President of the Government presented today the Economic Revitalisation Programme for the island of Terceira to the Presidents of Praia da Vitória and Angra do Heroísmo and the President of the Chamber of the Commerce of Angra do Heroísmo. The plan includes measures for the labour, economic, environmental and infrastructure components.
"The meeting was held with the aim of presenting the Economic Revitalisation Plan for the Island of Terceira that was developed by the Government of the Azores in order to address the challenge we are all facing. It arises from a significant reduction of the U.S. military presence at Lajes Air Base," said Vasco Cordeiro.
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government mentioned that this Plan was prepared over two years and includes the contributions that were provided by various entities during this time.
"This is an action-oriented document and it is what we need at this time: specific measures that contribute to overcoming the situation" resulting from the U.S. decision to reduce the military and civilian contingent at that air base.
Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the Plan, which is about to be concluded, comprises a labour component that will be affected by this decision, particularly regarding the situation of Portuguese workers in terms of their retirement and the cases when there are couples working at the base.
It also comprises measures for the economic component by mobilising positive differentiation rates and incentive schemes and by giving special attention to the tax component throughout this process.
The third area covered by the Plan concerns the use of infrastructures, Vasco Cordeiro added, pointing out as example the entrepreneurship actions provided in the document and the use of these infrastructures for maritime and air transport purposes.
"It is time for the Portuguese State to become aware of the central role that the coordination of air and port infrastructures can play in the achievement of Portugal's goals for the Continental Shelf project. These infrastructures can be used as a support centre that will assist the enforcement of its rights to this Continental Shelf," said the President of the Government.
As for the environmental component, Vasco Cordeiro stressed the need to "prevent the reduction of forces or the deactivation of facilities from becoming an environmental liability to the island of Terceira."
"This requires a determined and committed action, especially on the part of the Portuguese State with regard to the United States so that the latter may assume its responsibilities," warned Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government announced that several entities will analyse the plan at length, which should be publicly presented next week.