The Vice-President of the Government stressed in Angra do Heroísmo the importance of "training and the creation of new opportunities for employment" in the effort to combat unemployment.
 
Sérgio Ávila spoke at the delivery ceremony of the Acquisition of Basic Skills (ABC) diplomas, revealing that "the efforts carried out under this perspective" have contributed to the sharp reduction in the number of registered in February, the lowest of the last 40 months.
 
"This is a source of satisfaction and pride," the Vice-President said, adding that the results have been achieved not only with "the qualification and reinforcement of skills," but also the "wide range of policies to support the employability of Azoreans."
 
In this context, the government official pointed out, for example, that “we supported the professional integration of 2,087 Azoreans in private companies in the last three years under the INTEGRA programme."
 
Moreover, the government official added that "the Professional Integration Programme of Trainees (PIIE) has ensured that 1,094 former trainees will continue their professional activity in the companies where they completed their traineeship.
 
According to the Vice-President, 256 Azoreans have managed to create their own job, through the CPE programme.
 
"There is still a lot to do and this is just one stage. Nevertheless, with these results and with this initiative, we have reasons to celebrate," said Sérgio Ávila, who addressed the graduates who received diplomas. The government official also expressed his wish to meet them in other successful moments of their lives.