The president of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Algarve) started this week a series of visits to companies in the so-called economy of the sea, starting with projects in the Vila Real de Santo António and Lagos shipyards, considered « two good examples” that are being implemented with the support of community funds, through the PO Algarve 21 under the QREN.
«The Algarve shows that it has unique conditions to do something different. The sea, recreational boating, marinas, aquaculture are strong points that count in our favor. These are investments that create jobs, add value, combat seasonality and reveal the excellence of our recreational boating on an international scale», stressed David Santos, on the sidelines of the visit.
An example of this is Sopromar, «a family company with many years of experience in the area of nautical support services that is building a new Nautical Center in the shipyards, in Lagos, where it will have the conditions to be one of the best equipped. country and Europe», added the president of the CCDRA.
The project includes a Nautical Center that will allow the provision of an integrated set of services to nautical tourists, in terms of assistance to vessels (parking, maintenance, repair and construction) and will provide logistical conditions for the stay of crews (nautical tourists), store and services so far spread over three buildings.
It is an investment in the amount of 2,4 million euros, co-financed at 75%, which should be completed next summer.
The shipyard also benefits from its location, which makes it the first safe harbor and an entry point for those coming from the west coast of Europe.
But David Santos, also manager of PO Algarve 21, also visited the Nautiber shipyard in Vila Real de Santo António, where he verified the investments, verified the construction capacity and got in touch with the reality of the Algarve company that has been looking for market niches in the world motor boats, and for some years has focused on shipbuilding and in particular on large catamarans (two or more hull vessels).
Now it intends to strengthen its competitive capacity by investing in internationalization, specifically in the markets of Angola and Mozambique.
«In the market for large catamarans, up to a million and a half euros, we are at this moment practically unique in Europe», said Rui Roque, naval engineer and the main promoter of the company.
This builder is also the supplier of catamarans and boats to maritime tourism companies, such as Mares Maravilhosos, in Portimão, Jamanta/Animaris, in Faro, Wildcat/Varzeamar, in Albufeira., Adventure Cruises, in Lagos, beneficiaries of the SI Inovação Incentive System of the QREN, most of them 75% co-financed, which in total made investments of more than 5,5 million euros.
By the end of August this year, the Algarve Operational Program (PO Algarve 21) had approved a total of 539 projects, of which 52 are of a business nature.
The total ERDF funding of the PO Algarve 21 amounts to more than 179,2 million euros.
«For the next programming period 2014-2020, the Sea is a strategic area where we must continue to invest», concluded President David Santos.
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