The Regional Director for Youth spoke at the opening of the "Youth Showcase," stressing that a project such as this and "Entrepreneurial Education: The Path to Success," are key tools to empower young people with key entrepreneurial skills.

Pilar Damião recalled "young people have at their disposal several of Regional Government departments that develop programmes to encourage employment and youth entrepreneurship, “namely the Regional Director for Youth, through the social entrepreneurship programme - "Youth+," the Young Creators of the Azores Competition - Labjovem, and the programme "Entrepreneurial Education: The Path to Success."

"As the socio-economic paradigm is undergoing substantial change and competitive factors are increasingly demanding, young people will have to develop new skills for new jobs," said Pilar Damião.

In addition to "core skills that include traditional skills, such native language communication, digital skills, literacy, and basic skills in math and science," young people also need to develop "transversal skills", particularly in the areas of social and civic responsibility, innovation, initiative and entrepreneurship, cultural awareness and creativity.

Promoted by CRESAÇOR - Regional Solidarity Economy Cooperative, the "Youth Showcase" is an initiative that is organised within the project REDECOOL - Promoting Youth Employability and Entrepreneurship.

This event aims to promote business projects developed by young entrepreneurs and support young people with projects in incubation phase, as well as to promote networking, cooperatives and associations as entrepreneurial tools. It also intends to raise the awareness of companies, entrepreneurs, governmental entities and civil society for the proactivity and initiative of young people.

The initiative brings together a set of activities ranging from the showcase, exhibition and sale of products and services created by young entrepreneurs to seminars and the provision of relevant information in the area of creation, business development and employability, namely the programmes of the Regional Directorate for Youth: "Youth+," "Labjovem," "Bento de Góis," "Erasmus+"and the Interjovem Card.

The "Youth Showcase," targeted at entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 30, unemployed youth, civil society and local companies, also includes the delivery of the prize for the "Most Original Curricular Vitae" and the "City in Change" itinerary.