The Regional Government has authorised Regional Port Authorities to launch the concession tender for the transhipment terminal of Praia da Vitória Port, Terceira Island.
 
The decision was announced today by the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs during the presentation of the Press Release form the Council of the Government in Ponta Delgada.
 
Berto Messias stated that this decision arises from the study conducted by the Regional Port Authorities. This entity should now "move forward with the procedures for the issuance of an environmental impact statement and define the concession model for the container transhipment terminal of Praia da Vitória Port."
 
The Regional Secretary emphasised that these procedures aim to "ensure the protection of regional public interest," while defining "the position and interest of major operators."
 
Berto Messias highlighted the "strategic location of the Azores," where several international maritime routes converge in the Atlantic, as well as the "tailoring and natural conditions of Praia da Vitória Port." According to him, they represent "competitive advantages" in the operation of a transhipment terminal."
 
"The relevance of this project in terms of investment and the type of underlying business model entails the involvement of private operators in their implementation and future operation, upon the granting of concession," said the Regional Secretary.
 
The Regional Government has also authorised the awarding of a contract work for the remodelling of Horta Hospital and the construction of the Faial Island Health Unit building, an "investment of about seven million Euros." For Berto Messias, it represents "a continuous improvement in the provision of health care to the Azoreans and, in this particular case, to Faial islanders."
 
Furthermore, the Regional Government has decided to "provide financial support to the Research Centres of the University of the Azores for the three-year period 2018-2020, allocating an annual amount of 180 thousand Euros," said Berto Messias.
 
The Regional Secretary stated that the support will be granted through the signing of a protocol between the Region, the Gaspar Frutuoso Foundation and the University of the Azores. It is intended to "maintain and manage" those research centres, so that they may "organise their activities, research projects and infrastructures in a structured manner, while promoting their sustainability and development."
 
The Government of the Azores has also approved proposals to amend regional legislation on port operations, gas installations in buildings and the allocation of revenue from lottery games promoted by the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Lisbon (social institution).
 
The creation of structures for the management and monitoring of the sustainability of the Azores as tourist destination, the coordination between the Azores 2020 Operational Programme and the regional development strategy have been also decided at the Council of the Government. The signing of a contract-programme with the NONAGON Association - São Miguel Science and Technology Park and the transfer of a property to the Novo Dia Association for the installation of CIPA - Information Centre for Promotion and Monitoring of Equality Policies were other decisions taken by the Regional Government.