The Vice-President of the Government announced today the launch of the public tender for the "Acquisition of Services for the Creation and Design of the Visual Identity of the Azores Brand as well as for the Creation and Development of Different Manuals and Technical Studies on the Implementation of the Brand." This initiative is taking place in the context of the Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Business Competitiveness.

Sérgio Ávila stressed that in recent months "the working group in charge of the preparation of the tender has heard many professionals and entities from several economic sectors with the aim of collecting contributions for the definition of the main features of the Azores Brand and its further development."

"The Azores Brand will comprise all regional production in order to become a global brand of reference," stressed the Vice-President, who pointed out "the creation of added value for Azorean products and services and the increased penetration of products in the domestic and foreign markets" as the main goals of this initiative.

"The focus on the distinction of the Azores Brand by identifying the Region as a brand synonymous with quality and excellence proves to be of undeniable importance in the strategy to attract markets and secure their loyalty," defended Sérgio Ávila.

In this regard, the government official noted that the projection of the Azorean economy abroad requires the promotion of the "Azores Brand" to distinguish the products and promote their dissemination in the markets, internally and externally."

"Azorean products, either traditional tradable goods like meat, dairy and tuna or services such as tourism, must distinguish themselves from direct competitors for their quality and because they come from a region with an ecological footprint of high environmental value," said Sérgio Ávila.

The working group in charge of the preparation of this tender will now proceed to the "development of adherence process of products and services to the Azores Brand and their accreditation so that all phases that make up this important project be concluded by end of the year," revealed the Vice-President of the Regional Government.