"A region with more jobs, more economy, where seasonality is not so intense and where people have a better quality of life." This is how David Santos, president of the Algarve's Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) would like to see the region in six years, when the 2014/2020 Operational Program, which is about to start, comes to an end.
This was the final conclusion of the one-hour interview that the also PO Algarve21 manager gave to Rádio Universitária do Algarve (RUA FM) and to Sul Informação, live from the CCDR stand at FATACIL, in Lagoa, culminating a series of four special programs about Europe and the Algarve.
David Santos revealed the current status of the new Operational Program for the Algarve, for the period 2014-2020: «first, the Partnership Agreement was approved» between Portugal and the European Commission, announced on 30 July. Only after that did we “conclude our proposal for an Operational Programme, which is now in an Informal Consultation at the European Commission”.
If everything goes as expected, that person in charge estimates that “at the beginning of September, there should be an answer or a request for some small correction to be made. We would very much like that, at the end of September or, at the latest, in the first or second week of October, we had our Operational Program approved, to open competitions so that companies, municipalities and business associations can compete».
«We are doing everything, in the Algarve and in the country, so that this year there are already payments, with applications approved and expenses incurred», he guaranteed.
But this will be the future. And how did the PO Algarve21 go, for the 2007/2013 period, but whose conclusion should take place, in Portugal, only in June of next year?
David Santos recalls that this framework of community support “was prepared in 2006/2007, with the economy growing”, that is, “an operational program was made for a very positive situation. But the truth is that, from 2007 to 2013, there was the opposite, there was a downturn in the economy».
On the other hand, “until 2012, there was no continuous monitoring of companies. As of 2012, we have been more committed to this mission of monitoring companies». And that gave good results. In March 2012, “among the five regions, we were in fourth place in terms of execution, today, in August 2014, we are in first place in the rate of execution of incentive systems in the country. This, due to the work we have done, to the great effort of the companies, which also realized that the incentive system could boost a lot of business for them. The crisis itself led entrepreneurs to realize the advantage of being supported and of meeting the candidates' goals».
«Today, in the Algarve, we have an execution rate of 81% and we are the first region in the country to implement the incentive system, that is, in supporting companies. We did this in two years and four months. It is a credit to the companies and the team that we have at the CCDR and that go to companies every week to ask if they have problems and to support and encourage the fulfillment of the goals», underlined the manager of PO Algarve21.
David Santos: in the Algarve, we have an 81% execution rate and we are the first region in the country to implement the incentive system, that is, in supporting companies
In terms of execution, «of the 208 million community funds approved, we have currently executed 117 million, which is an execution rate of 67%. We want to reach the end of the year very close to 80%. Usually, the second semester has much more execution».
As of 30 July, there were 908 applications for incentive systems entered, of which 397 were approved. In total, this represents a total investment of 210 million euros, an eligible investment of 187 million, and an approved ERDF of 68 million.
For David Santos, in the community framework now almost over, there was "another thing that didn't go very well." “There was a big difference between QCA3 and QREN, when we started to receive a fifth of the ERDF value, going from 835 million euros to 175 million euros. This is a very sudden adaptation for a region that has the same municipalities and more inhabitants».
David Santos: Algarve becomes a transition region, the only one in the whole country. We will have another 50 million euros in the ERDF and we will manage the ESF in the region
And why did this happen? “Because we were considered a rich region. As a result of the entry of Eastern countries into the European Union, the average value of GDP fell. We, keeping the same economy, were considered a rich region».
This will be, however, a situation that in the new framework 2014/2020 will be changed, as the Algarve becomes «a transition region, the only one in the whole country». "We will have another 50 million euros in the ERDF and we will manage the ESF in the region", he stressed.
Of what went well among the investments supported by the PO Algarve21, David Santos highlights the «administrative modernization of municipalities», Simplex Autárquico, projects that involve an investment of around 7 million euros, of which 5,25 million are supported through the ERDF .
«The Central Algarve (Tavira, Olhão, Faro, S Brás, Loulé and Albufeira), together, have an application, which today allows a citizen or a company to go to one of these municipalities and submit an application to any of the other municipalities, without having to travel». This is, underlined the president of the CCDRA in his interview with Sul Informação and to RUA FM, for a project “innovative at the national level”.
In order to continue this project, there is already “an application from the remaining 10 municipalities, via AMAL. If all goes well, in 2015 any citizen of an Algarve municipality will be able to submit an application to any other municipality in the Algarve. present in Faro a request for Aljezur: this is what is intended for the entire region, but which, for now, is only possible in the six municipalities of the Central Algarve», he explained.
Other good examples pointed out by David Santos, with regard to public projects, are the Solar Demonstration Platform promoted by Enercoutim, in Alcoutim (associated investment of close to 1,4 million
euros), the Ualg Business Lab, promoted by the University of Algarve (4,8 million), which integrates a solution to welcome and support scientific, technological and economic and social activities.
David Santos: Simplex Autárquico is an innovative project at national level
Also in Axis I, the installation of a unit of the SPAST Portuguese Society for the Rental and Service of Textiles in Algoz (Silves), which created 300 jobs and increased exports, while also working for hotels and restaurants in Andalusia, should be highlighted.
Another successful case is Sparos, a micro company created in 2008, a spin-off from the Center for Marine Sciences (CCMAr) of the University of Algarve.
In Axis II, referring to Environmental Protection and Qualification, the president of CCDRA highlighted the installation of luminous flux regulators in ten Algarve municipalities (2 million), the redevelopment of the coast of Carvoeiro, in Lagoa (611 euros), or the Park riverside of Faro, promoted by the Polis Litoral Ria Formosa Society (3,4 million).
In Axis III, in addition to the aforementioned Simplex Autárquico, the manager of PO Algarve21 also highlights the 1st phase of the requalification and enhancement of the Sagres Promontory (nearly 3 million).
David Santos: We have to have more berths for those who pass here and for larger vessels. This will bring more investment and more tourists to the region, outside of peak seasons
«The Operational Program approved a first phase of redevelopment of the building, now it has approved the second phase, which involves the virtual recreation of the Discoveries», in an exhibition center where an interactive exhibition will be created, relating to historical, heritage and environmental values, using multimedia , he explained.
David Santos considered this project as an «excellent example of what can be supported in the next framework», in which «there will be goals to be achieved, namely, in a case like Sagres, to increase the number of visitors». The Sagres Promontory «is the equipment south of the Tagus that receives the most visitors», around 300 thousand per year. «It may happen that this work, due to its importance, could be phased in and be supported by the next framework. It is a fundamental work, which brings many tourists to the Algarve and has to do with our identity».
At the CCDRA stand, the Sea is highlighted, which is even the theme of this edition of FATACIL, which ends this Sunday, the 24th.
David Santos explained that, in order to define the 2014/2020 framework, “all regions were forced to define their smart specialization strategy. For the Algarve, there are two structuring sectors (Tourism and Sea) and another four considered emerging: agri-food, energy, health and leisure and even creative industries».
The sea is a «consolidated sector», and European funds for the sea will be managed nationally (through PROMAR), as has been the case until now.
But in the Operational Programme, managed by the CCDR, «we have eligibility, because the sea is not just about fishing». For example, in the 2007/2013 framework, «we supported ten maritime-tourist companies, for the construction and entry into operation of ten catamarans, all built in the Algarve, in a shipyard company in Vila Real de Santo António. Together, they have an ERDF value of more than €5 million».
“Aquaculture for us is fundamental. There are IDT applications that have arisen in this area.
The Algarve produces more than 50% of the country's bivalves and more than 96% of all the country's sea salt", and in these areas it has invested in innovation, with the creation, for example, of "liquid salt, flor de sal , salt with aromatic herbs».
On the other hand, recalled the president of the CCDR, «any aquaculture company must have structures on land, cold rooms, warehouses, factories to transform. Well, this will boost the economy on land».
David Santos also considers that «we have to bet even more on recreational places. We are the second region in the Mediterranean basin for mooring posts, but many are for residents. We have to have more for those who pass here and for larger vessels. This will bring more investment and more tourists to the region, outside of peak seasons».
And what will change with the new Operational Program for the Algarve? First, the CCDR president replied, “there will be more than double the amount to support the Algarve's companies. We had 45 million in the previous PO, now it will be 100 million».
Afterwards, he explained, “the lost funds will be reduced and more support will be given to integrated and networked projects, such as Simplex Autárquico, Cultura em Rede, urban recovery projects in several municipalities together.
There will also be a reinforcement of “support for the transfer of knowledge from universities to companies. In the Algarve, science still needs to be put at the service of companies». «We have to take this knowledge and pass it on to companies, only in this way can we be more competitive and internationalize our companies».
But there is another new thing that will make companies very happy. For the new OP and other European funds will be “uncomplicated”. Until now, “to submit an application, whether for 25 thousand euros or two million, an expert is needed. But the bureaucracy will be made easier and there will be a one-stop shop and a register of companies. Today, a company, if submitting several applications, must always submit the same documents. In the next table no, there will be a register of the company».
David Santos: Those who manage the community funds cannot be sitting in their offices and waiting. We have to meet the companies
David Santos also guarantees that the proactive attitude of the CCDRA team will continue. “Whoever manages these community funds cannot be sitting in their offices and waiting. We have to meet the companies, we have to go to the region. So far, since 2012, we have run all municipalities to present the incentive systems and we will continue to do so».
«We have to get out of our hole!», concluded the president of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission, in the program that was broadcast live by RUA FM, on Wednesday, between 19 and 20:00.
Veja here more pictures of the program.
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