The President of the Government announced today that the Azorean Government is working to ensure that Santa Maria welcomes "a new vector of development" linked to the launch of microsatellites, seizing the potential of its geographical location and the existing infrastructures on the island.
 
"The Regional Government is working in conjunction the National Government on the preparation of a regulatory framework" with the aim of providing private investors with better conditions so that Santa Maria may be the appropriate location for the installation of this industry, which will contribute to the creation of direct and indirect jobs, said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government spoke at the ceremony of laying the first stone of the works for the rehabilitation of Santa Maria Airport Cinema, an investment over four million Euros. It falls within the rehabilitation of historical heritage, based on the use of its "characteristics and history" to launch new bridges of development and progress on the island.
 
In this context, Vasco Cordeiro pointed out the recent developments that Santa Maria already registers in some areas, such as the case of its airport and infrastructures recently created in the field of space. They indicate that Santa Maria may attract investments related to this new sector in the future.
 
"I am referring to the space industry and the harnessing of the potential of Santa Maria in terms of its geographic location and infrastructures already installed for the launch of microsatellites," said the President of the Government.
 
Vasco Cordeiro mentioned that this process is at an advanced stage of implementation in conjunction the European Space Agency and with a group of private investors. According to him, they support "the increasingly solid expectation that Santa Maria will launch a new vector of development in this new field, which will be crucial to the development and affirmation of the Azores at national and international level.
 
Regarding the rehabilitation of the Airport Cinema, Vasco Cordeiro stated that a new space will be built from an emblematic and historic infrastructure in the relation of Santa Maria with the world. As he stressed, "it also intends to become a gateway to the island through culture and a closer contact with the arts as an opportunity to foster this openness."
 
"As for the Regional Government's intentions with this investment, they are not limited to culture. In fact, it intends to provide the island and the Region with the conditions to seize opportunities arising from our development and progress," stressed the President of the Government.
 
In addition, this work is a very clear sign of the Government's commitment to strengthen regional cohesion. This is achieved "with more than words as it involves the creation of conditions so that we may have the necessary conditions to serve our islands and our communities," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.
 
With the recovery of the Airport Cinema, the new space is expected to host theatre music and dance performances as well as cinema. Moreover, it will have multipurpose rooms adapted to exhibitions and other similar events.