The Vice-President of the Government said today at the Regional Legislative Assembly that the recently created Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Business Competitiveness "is not a Government's agenda for employment creation", but rather, "as clearly indicated by its designation, an Azorean agenda."

Sérgio Ávila took part on the debate raised by an interpellation made by the Social Party to the Government on the document, stressing that this fact "calls upon all political parties and the civil society."

The Vice-President also stressed that the Government intends to award high priority status to employment creation and promotion of economic activities in order to create the conditions for sustainable economic growth.

"The Azorean Agenda consists of a series of 60 measures, of which 70% are unprecedented" in the Region, the Vice-President noted, emphasising that these "are structural policies" designed to "improve the competitiveness of companies and ensure better employability conditions with the aim of boosting the Azorean economy in the medium and long-term."

The hard times we are living in Portugal and Europe enhance the importance of the incentive policies of this Agenda, which was emphasised by Sérgio Ávila. In this context, the government official expects "an increased stimulus for private initiative in the regional economic sector," particularly with the promotion of the export sector.

"We have said it before, but we want to remember that our goal is to reinforce the competitiveness of Azorean companies," the Vice-President said, adding that many of the measures that make up the Agenda are intended to create an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation.

"Entrepreneurship develops attitudes and skills that promotes creativity and entrepreneurial spirit," considered the Vice-President of the Government. The government official drew attention to the great effort that will be undertaken in the area of vocational training for the promotion of employability and the security of jobs throughout the professional lives of citizens.

Moreover, Sérgio Ávila recalled that some measures included in the Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Competitiveness have already been implemented, such as the extension of the application deadline for the support to the financial restructuring and liquidity of companies as well as for the line of credit "Azores Invest II.

For the Vice-President, it is "a strong message of confidence to Azorean entrepreneurs” and it is also a clear sign of the Government's commitment to employment creation and business competitiveness "that cannot be ignored."
 
Highlighting that the Government promoted several hearings with various social partners on the document under discussion, who have expressed their agreement, Sérgio Ávila considered that we will only achieve the desired results with the involvement of all partners and with much persistence.

"The Regional Government believes that we will be able to ponder over the economic policies that are best suited for the promotion of competitiveness, creation of jobs and generation of wealth, based on participation and a broad consensus, so that we may continue the path followed in recent years," concluded the government official.