Following the legislative package to promote business competitiveness and employment approved by the Extraordinary Council of the Government, the Vice-President announced the extension of the existing support for the export of Azorean products to the transport operations to final destinations outside the country.
 
Sérgio Ávila revealed that the recent amendment to EU directives allowed us to amend the rules on the Incentive Subsystem for Internationalisation and to extend the export subsidies to the canning and live fish sectors. Transport costs to destinations outside the country will be reimbursed under this scheme.
 
The Vice-President recalled that, until now, the support "was only allocated to transport operations up to Mainland Portugal. With this measure, the Azorean Government aims to reinforce the competitiveness of exporting companies, "stimulating wealth generation and job creation."
 
The Government has also decided to approve the SME Digital Azores Voucher, a financial support measure for the use of digital technologies. According to Sérgio Ávila, it aims "to increase the attractiveness of investments that generate stable employment in the Region and the competitiveness of companies on all islands, as a decisive factor for cohesive economic and social growth."
 
"We intend to encourage Azorean companies to procure digital services so that they may enhance their integration into larger markets. This will also allow companies to optimise internal and external organisational processes, thus maximising their results and their competitiveness in a global economic context," stressed Sérgio Ávila.
 
The Government of the Azores has also created a new support measure for entrepreneurship, designated as "I Undertake My Business." It is primarily intended to encourage and support the emergence of startup companies through the training of entrepreneurs, provide specialised support in the preparation of Business Plans and the establishment of companies, and ensure technical monitoring in the first year of activity.
 
The support may be complemented with other incentives provided for in the Regional Network of Business Incubators and the Investment Incentive Systems.
 
Sérgio Ávila also announced the creation of the Azorean Network of Mentors "with the purpose of further supporting entrepreneurs who wish to develop their business ideas and implement business projects."
 
"This is an initiative that falls within the measures to strengthen the Azores' entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster the creation of new companies based on ideas that combine knowledge and innovation," said the Vice-President of the Government.