The Vice-President of the Government announced today, in Ponta Delgada the entry into force of a new incentive scheme for the internationalisation of Azorean companies on January 1, 2016.
 
"The new system will essentially extend and intensify the support provided to companies in their export effort," said Sérgio Ávila. The government official noted that "the investments made by companies in digital equipment and technologies" will be covered by this support measure as well as the efforts to export goods and services, especially if associated to the Azores Brand; the latter "acknowledges the knowledge and specificity of regional production."

The Vice-President of the Government spoke on the sidelines of the workshop on Digital Economy and SMEs, stressing that he had already highlighted the importance of the internationalization of Azorean companies at the opening session of the event.

"Information and communication technologies, especially digital technologies, are increasingly present in the activities of companies," hence "their importance is critical" in the development of business development, said Sérgio Ávila.

In his speech, the government official assured that the Government of the Azores will pursue its efforts to create the conditions so that companies "can adhere to new information and communication technologies in order to leverage their business, making them more competitive and productive."

The incentive scheme Competir+, the Azores Brand and the Annual Plan for Trade Fairs and Business Missions were some of initiatives mentioned by Sérgio Ávila to highlight the Government's action "with impact on Azorean economy," whether by increasing the export of goods or the consumption of local products.

Sérgio Ávila also pointed out that, as a result of the Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Business Competitiveness, the Government has reached "a universe of more than 33,000 Azoreans and more than 2,650 companies," supporting the creation of more 330 companies and 3,450 jobs."

For the Vice-President, there is "still much to do and achieve," which is all the more possible as the Azorean economy adapts to new negotiating and relational paradigm.

"Physical location ceased to be important in business. The companies that are not online and do not assume the importance of information and communication technologies as the driving force that puts companies in the market, then their future will tend to be increasingly difficult and they may even run out of business, "he said.

Therefore, the Vice-President assured that the Regional Government will continue to "create the conditions for the use of technologies by our companies and streamline measures to facilitate the context in which they develop their activities."