The Vice-President of the Government of the Azores announced today in Nordeste the "creation of an Azorean Network of Business Incubators, a true Corporate Nest."

Speaking at the first of a series actions intended to Promote Endogenous Products and Resources, Sérgio Ávila revealed that this regional network of business incubators will start in the municipality of Nordeste and will later extend to other municipalities of the archipelago.

The government official underlined that, "with the cooperation of the local Town Hall," this business incubator will provide the municipality of Nordeste with "a dynamic and contemporary space that will meet local needs in order to boost the exploration of endogenous resources and create companies and jobs." In this regard, the Government intends to create similar spaces throughout the archipelago.

According to Sérgio Ávila, it is important that the entities bringing added value to local development "create in conjunction the necessary critical mass to the construction of an entrepreneurship ecosystem." The government official assured that "there will be an attentive and active collaboration on the part of the Regional Government."

"Regarding the support tools to private investment for the period 2014-2020, our aim is to support the remodelling of spaces where the business incubators will be installed and the acquisition of equipment. In addition, we will foster cooperation among several entities so that, through the promotion of the so-called collective actions, they will be able to support the creation and development of new companies," stressed Sérgio Ávila.

The Vice-President of the Government underlined the effort of the Government to "support youngsters and create the conditions to maintain them in the Region," announcing the creation of "a new incentive scheme aimed specifically at the support of companies created by young entrepreneurs."

"We are also aware that the allocation of a small amount and believing in the abilities of people are enough to contribute to the accomplishment of important goals and the possibility of generating income that allows the creation of self-employment. For this reason, we will continue to promote the Support Scheme for Microcredit as well as support programmes for the Creation of Self-Employment," added the government official.

In his speech, Sérgio Ávila also highlighted that in order to support the creation of self-employment, the Government of the Azores has implemented the "Empreende Açores" (Azores Entrepreneurship) programme with the purpose of "assisting in the development of business plans in areas related to the use of endogenous resources as well as in the implementation phase for a period of 12 months. Hence, the Government will support the creation of companies and their subsequent follow-up."

Another measure stressed by the government official is the Network of Business Offices, with offices on all islands. It has the necessary skills to provide support to those who wish to start a business or to already established entrepreneurs in all areas regarding the management of a company.

Furthermore, the Vice-President of the Government stressed that the maintenance of population in municipalities "is another priority." In this context, the Government has sought to provide citizens with the conditions that allow them "to seize the opportunities that their land offers them" so that can "build a future that will be always linked to the feeling of belonging to a place that is theirs."

"From island to island, each corner of our Region can be that place," said Sérgio Ávila.