The Government of the Azores will move forward with a proposal to increase the salary supplement of Azorean civil servants by 12%, stated the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs.
 
Berto Messias presented the Press Release from the Government Council in the context of the statutory visit to the island of Graciosa, pointing out that it is a "double wage increase" for Azorean civil servants "with lower wages."
 
"This proposal also includes changes to the initial wage supplement index with the aim of extending the first level to income up to 635.07 Euros/month. This measure will be cumulative with the 12% increase in wage supplement proposed for Azorean public administration," said the government official.
 
The Regional Secretary also added that the decision of the Regional Government's decision to move forward with a proposal for the creation of a new scheme to support informal caregivers.
 
"This legal document provides for the creation of a series of support measures aimed at informal caregivers and the safeguarding of the rights of those who have to provide care to relatives and other people closer to them in situations of illness or care dependency. Hence, caregivers will have better conditions to provide support and assistance to those who need it," stated the Regional Secretary.
 
The Regional Government has also decided to allocate 350 thousand Euros to support the University of the Azores in terms of its tripartite structure, namely "the expenses arising from the management of its tripartite structure, including the operation of the Angra do Heroísmo, Horta and Ponta Delgada campuses."
 
"The financing of public higher education throughout the Portuguese territory is a responsibility that falls upon the State. However, the Government of the Azores believes it is essential to support the tripartite structure of the University of the Azores. This contribution will enhance the importance of this institution for the production of knowledge and qualification of human resources that actively contribute to the development of the Region, stressed Berto Messias.
 
The government official recalled that, over the last six years, the Regional Government has supported the University of the Azores with the allocation of "more than 6.6 million Euros for projects and the acquisition of services."
 
As for tourism, the "Nine Dots Hotel Boutique" project, a new hotel unit to be located in the centre of Ponta Delgada, was recognised as Project of Regional Interest, representing an investment of more than four million Euros and the creation of 21 direct jobs.
 
The Government has also recognised the "Double Tree by Hilton," a four-star hotel located in the city of Lagoa, as Project Regional Interest, which corresponds to an investment of around 12 million euros and the creation of 53 jobs. It is intended to provide logistical support to the new International Hospital of the Azores, which is under construction.
 
In the area of technologies, the Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency stated that the Azorean Government will invest 5.5 million Euros in the "installation and support of the Azores Cloud platform" a project he considered as "an innovative and fundamental pillar in the digital transformation of the regional public administration. This measure already envisioned in the Azores 2020 Operational Programme and is being developed in coordination with the Digital and Technological Agenda of the Azores."
 
"The Azores Cloud platform will promote the centralisation of the Azores Government's computer infrastructure and data base based on two twin cooperating data centres to be located in different geographical areas. They will ensure the continuity of operations in case of disaster, the autonomy of entities when using its applications as well as greater competitiveness in terms of technology, interoperability, consolidation, licensing, integration, performance and security," said the government official.
 
The Government of the Azores has also decided to support the construction of the Arrifes Intergenerational Centre for the installation of a Day Centre, a Night Centre and a Free Time Occupation Centre in this village of the municipality of Ponta Delgada; the support amounts to 2.6 million Euros.
 
The support for the professional reinsertion of the unemployed, the partial suspension of the Terceira Coastal Management Plan (POOC) for the implementation of an investment in qualified tourism accommodation, the signing of contract-programmes to support the operation of NONAGON - São Miguel Science and Technology Park, SDEA - Society for Business Development of the Azores, company Ilhas de Valor, IROA - Regional Institute of Agrarian Planning and Teatro Micaelense were other decisions taken by the Council of the Government that met on Graciosa island.