The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport urged several partners in the construction sector to "use our materials and our workforce."

Speaking at the opening of the Technical Talks, an initiative promoted by the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory, Vítor Fraga said he expects that industry partners use endogenous materials produced and processed in Region so that the construction sector can "bring added value and contribute to the sustainability of companies. In this regard, the creation and maintenance of jobs will be always a top priority."

The Regional Secretary reminded that the creation of the Catalogue of Endogenous Products and materials produced and processed in the Region aims to "increase the use of materials produced or processed in the Azores, through their inclusion in the base programmes for projects and in the tender specifications of public and private works."

"In a similar fashion as this catalogue, it is necessary to find new paths for the sustainability of the construction sector, which should contribute to the creation of jobs and the generation of wealth and, simultaneously, respond to the actual needs of infrastructures in our islands", said Vítor Fraga .

"The Government of the Azores has assumed its role as a driving force towards this new path by introducing factors that allow companies to develop their activities in a sustainable manner," added the government official.

Vítor Fraga also emphasised "a new time for the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory" that started today. With the use of new technologies, this laboratory "is ready to play its important role at a regional level; its activities will not be limited to specific interventions on each islands as its knowledge will be brought in a structured and consistent manner to the entire Region in real time."

In this context, the government official pointed out the example of the innovative nature of the event held today, which "allows every Azorean, regardless of the island where they live, to attended this Technical Talk as well as to give their opinion and discuss ideas."

Vítor Fraga also assured that "the Regional Government will continue to give full priority to the reduction of the administrative costs incurred by Azorean companies, the adaptation of the laboratory and scientific supply to the regional reality and the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge."

In his speech, the Regional Secretary announced that the "plan developed by the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory for the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge will be presented soon. This plan comprises the organisation of training courses, seminars and workshops."

In order to fulfil the commitments taken, the Regional Government, through the Regional Laboratory of Civil Engineering, continues "working step by step in order to provide the construction and public works sectors with a series of training tools that allow them to update their knowledge. In fact, these tools will help them improving the services provided and give them the opportunity of adapting and updating the construction techniques and methods in order to keep up with the latest innovations in this area."