The Regional Government, through the Vice-Presidency, will open the period for submission of applications under the Incentive System for the Development of the Azores Handicrafts (SIDART) between February 11 and March 29.
 
Applications must be made exclusively online on the Regional Centre for Handicrafts (CRAA) page at the address www.artesanato.azores.gov.pt.
 
"The order published in the Official Journal ensures the increase of 270 thousand Euros in the budget appropriation with the aim of supporting handicrafts in areas such as training, qualification and innovation of handicraft products, marketing and promotion. It also comprises investments in infrastructures and production equipment by Handicraft Production Units (UPA)," said Sérgio Ávila.
 
"The increase of funding under this incentive system will help our artisans to improve their ability and the quality of their production," added the Vice-President.
 
Sérgio Ávila pointed out that, in recent years, the handicraft sector "has registered a considerable revitalisation and growth, attracting a growing number of people. This is a sector with increasing profitability that ensures more income to Azorean artisans."
 
On the other hand, he mentioned that "this activity is also growing in terms of importance both in the regional production fabric and in the regional economy."
 
Last year, the Regional Government supported 145 handicraft projects on all the islands of the archipelago.
 
The Incentive System for the Development of the Azores Handicrafts was created with the purpose of promoting the sustainable development of handcraft activities, through a series of measures.