The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport announced today the creation of a working group "that will be in charge of developing the project in the operational and economic components" in order to turn the Praia da Vitória Porto into "a true Atlantic hub for cargo distribution from and to Europe."

Speaking during a visit to the port facilities, Vítor Fraga revealed that the group will develop the work that has been done so far and mentioned the existence of "operational issues that need to be further studied and clarified."

With the work carried out by this group, "we will be able to know how far we can go in terms of investment." In addition, the working group will "develop the budget project for this situation and assure its sustainability," the government official said, adding that the Government will "do everything within its reach to find supporters for this cause" among EU institutions.

The Secretary for Transport pointed out that the development of this project "is not a sprint, but a long-distance race, a marathon."

"We must be very persistent and be prepared to overcome all barriers and all the difficulties we will face as there will be a clear change in paradigm concerning the maritime cargo transport system," said the government official.

Vítor Fraga stressed the need of not only developing "a project supported in operational terms and highlighting the added value arising from the location of the port and conditions of Praia da Vitória port," but also of ensuring "the economic sustainability of the project."

The Regional Secretary also called for the need "of convincing the EU about the added value brought by this project" since its implementation represents "a radical change in the current transport model."

For Vítor Fraga, "we currently have a closed model that is based on the traffic of large container ships" whereas the model the Regional Government intends to implement "will break barriers." In fact, the new model is based on a "model for the use of medium-sized ports at a European level, with centralised distribution of cargo in the Azores from and to Europe."

According to the Regional Secretary, "this model brings significant benefits for the environment, particularly with the reduction of road traffic from Rotterdam, which is main distribution centre of cargo for Europe, and the subsequent reduction of CO2 emissions."

The working group announced today is composed of the following members: Luís Quintanilla, Regional Director for Transport; Roberto Monteiro, Mayor of Praia da Vitória City Hall; Célia Azevedo, Regional Under Secretariat of the Presidency for External Affairs; Lara Martinho, Society for the Business Development of the Azores; Sandro Paim, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores and Miguel Correia, Regional Port Authorities.

The working group will follow up this process in order to assure a "sustainable defence of what we consider important and fundamental for the development of Praia da Vitória Port as well as for the development of the Region in the global context of maritime traffic."

"We must optimise as much as possible the existing infrastructures as well as our geostrategic position," defended Vítor Fraga.