The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport said today that the Azores Maritime Training School, to be installed in the city of Horta, will focus on attracting trainees "not only from the Azores but also from other places, including the Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP)."

Speaking to journalists at the end of a visit to the premises of the former Radio Naval Station in Horta, where the new school will be installed, Vítor Fraga considered the project as "very important" to Faial and the Azores insofar as "it will actively promote the maritime importance of the Azores both at a European and international context."

"We have good conditions and a good working base" to launch a landmark project, Vítor Fraga said, adding that this project will be mainly based on the renewal of the facilities where the Horta Radio Naval Station operated until January.
 
For the Regional Secretary, the premises have "the necessary conditions for the educational and teaching components as well as for accommodation."

Vítor Fraga pointed out that, under a protocol signed with the Ministry of Defence, the facilities used by the former Naval Radio Station of Horta will be transferred to the Region "at the time when the infrastructure that is being built on São Miguel is completed."

"We are preparing the legislative procedures concerning the establishment of the school, which will be followed by the creation of the respective installing committee. After that, we will focus our attention on the infrastructures; the educational component and the courses to be taught at this school are already under development," stressed the government official.

For Vítor Fraga, this is "a structuring project” for the economy of Faial and the Azores as it "provides maritime training and skills in several areas and occupations, where nowadays there is a shortage of skilled workers in the labour market. Thus, the Region will be endowed with qualified human resources to better face future challenges in this sector."

Moreover, the Regional Secretary said this is also "a very important investment at a European level," which is why "we must enhance and make the most" of what the Azores have to offer as well as of their knowledge and traditions.

Regarding the investment costs, Vítor Fraga said it was "too early" to come up with figures, but he mentioned that the Government hopes to benefit from Community funds since this project fits "perfectly" into what Europe has defined for the next Community Support 2014-2020.

"At this point, it is important to develop the school's training offer as well as the renewal projects of the buildings," stated Vítor Fraga. However, the government official said the most important of this project is not the construction or the concrete; it concerns its main purpose: provide training to people."