All the opportunities to develop the action of the Agency for Promotion of Investments in Azores (APIA) “should seize because the success achieved by APIA will certainly be the success of the Autonomous Region of the Azores,” stated the Regional Secretary for the Economy in Ponta Delgada this morning.

Vasco Cordeiro spoke during the signing ceremony of a cooperation protocol between APIA and the Portuguese Industrial Association Business Confederation (AIP-CE) which, among other things, will allow the use of national initiatives organised by the AIP-CE for the promotion of regional companies and products, such as the case of the events organised by that entity at the International Fair of Lisbon.

According to the Regional Secretary for the Economy, the protocol signed on Thursday demonstrates that the APIA “is aware and alert in order to strengthen strategic partnerships for the accomplishment of its goals.”

These partnerships, stated Vasco Cordeiro, may potentiate and “provide a very effective contribution to the development of the Region; certainly when we contribute to the development of the Azores, we are also contributing to the development of the country.”

In the meantime, the strengthening of relations between these two entities demonstrates the APIA “is permanently analysing the opportunities to reinforce its action and thus the economic development of the Azores,” defended the Regional Secretary.

Under the agreement signed on Thursday, the two organisations will cooperate in the exchange of information on initiatives, projects and actions which, in the regional, national and international context, aim to create, strengthen and promote regional competitiveness and technology centres; develop regional knowledge platforms; contribute their integration in European networks; stimulate the development of high technology skills for companies; develop intellectual and industrial property and human resources, and provide technical support to the participation of companies in S&T and innovation projects under the national and transnational programmes.

The protocol includes the promotion of joint projects and initiatives with the purpose of promoting investment, entrepreneurship and business internationalisation, being addressed at micro, small and medium-sized companies (PME). These initiatives aim to establish institutional cooperation modalities, mainly in the promotion and dissemination of the projects among Azorean companies and their integration in these same projects.

The promotion of joint initiatives to disseminate the economic potentialities that the Azores have to offer in some sectors, the investment opportunities, the legal support tools as well as to ensure the adequate monitoring of the evolution of these sectors are another measures to be developed under this protocol.

In addition, this agreement also aims to increase the participation of Azorean companies, products and services at fairs and other events in order to promote and disseminate the Azores at a national and international level.