The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology, alluding to the ongoing process for the creation of a space port on Santa Maria Island, stated that the Azorean Government wants "more opportunities for development, more qualified employment and more wealth" for the Region and, in particular, for Santa Maria.
 
Gui Menezes stated that Santa Maria "will be a space cluster of the Azores by congregating other infrastructures already installed on the island since 2008 that are still being developed." In addition to vertical microsatellite launchers, the Government is considering other projects to be developed in the field of space.
 
The Regional Secretary spoke to journalists at the end of a hearing at the Committee on Social Affairs of the Legislative Assembly on the Space Port project on Santa Maria and the recent announcement of a "formal hearing of interested parties." According to him, this was "an opportunity to inform the Committee members about the ongoing process."
 
For Gui Menezes, the hearing was an "opportunity to reinforce" the Azorean Government's position on this process, which has been conducted "with all transparency and with the utmost care."
 
The Regional Secretary reiterated that, in order to implement the space port, "all environmental and safety issues must be safeguarded," stressing that, otherwise, "the project will not move forward."
 
At the hearing, Gui Menezes mentioned that the "details of the first phase of the International Atlantic Satellite Launch Programme (ATLANTIC ISLP) were clarified." Regarding this project, 14 companies have expressed their interest; five of which are interested in conducting launches on Santa Maria."
 
"In a second phase, these companies will now be invited to provide further details about their projects from a technological, environmental and safety standpoint, but also in terms of the business type they propose to implement in the Azores and the added value generated for the Region," said the government official.
 
The Secretary for Technology defended that the space industry "is the most advanced in the world and brings a significant development opportunity for the Azores, which is worth exploring," adding that "the conditions are created for this to happen."
 
The Regional Secretary also stated that "environmental impact studies" will be carried out on the project to be selected for Santa Maria and that the island's location has "competitive advantages" compared to countries such as Norway, Sweden and Scotland, which are also in the space race.
 
The project for the installation of a space port could have an estimated public cost of six million and, in this context, the possibility of channelling Community funds for the implementation of this project is under assessment.
 
Gui Menezes also informed that the Regional Space Law "is almost completed."