The implementation of planned public investment by the Azorean Government registered an increase over 13% in August compared to the same month of last year. The Plan and Budget for 2017 were approved in April at the Regional Parliament and came into force only in June due to the beginning of a new legislative period following the October 2016 elections.
 
"The public investment effectively implemented in the Region until the end of August grew 13% over the same period of last year, even though the Regional Plan and Budget for this year only came into full operation in June," said the Vice-President of the Government.
 
Sérgio Ávila spoke at the end of the round of hearings to social partners and political parties with parliamentary seat that took place Monday on the initiative of the President of the Government of the Azores, Vasco Cordeiro, to draw up investment and Budget proposals for next year. In this context, the government official highlighted the significance of this growth in terms of investment implementation, considering that "the 2017 Plan has been in force for less than three months."
 
With regard to 2018 and stressing the relevance of the Regional Government's contribution to the preparation of the Plan and Budget proposals, the Vice-President of the Government considered that these guiding documents will reflect the consensual recognition of "changes from an economic standpoint" and the emergence of new "challenges and opportunities."