Companies from the low-density territories of the Algarve have the potential to internationalize their products and there are markets interested in buying them. This is one of the conclusions drawn from the project Internacionalizar+Algarve, promoted by NERA and CRIA of the University of Algarve.
76 companies from low-density territories in the Algarve were involved in this project, which started in April 2016 and culminated in the Regional Forum for Internationalization, which took place on 21 November, at the NERA Auditorium, in Loulé.
These companies in the Tourism/Leisure, Sea and Agrifood sectors took advantage of Internacionalizar+Algarve to interact with consultants linked to four European markets (Germany, France, Netherlands and Sweden) and had B2B (Business-to-Business) meetings with international commercial prospectors .
Result of these meetings? There is potential for internationalization for products characteristic of low-density territories, such as honey, medronho or sausages, and also in services related to the sea (watching of cetaceans), or to nature tourism (hiking or birdwatching). And target markets are interested.
Vítor Neto, president of NERA, speaking to the Sul Informação, made a «highly positive assessment of Internacionalizar+Algarve, considering that we are talking about companies in low-density areas of the region. These are areas with less development, less economic growth, fewer companies and more fragile”.
These companies gained greater knowledge of the markets and, within the scope of the project, were encouraged to develop collective initiatives for inter-company cooperation.
In relation to the number of participating companies, Vítor Neto also makes a “positive” balance. “It gave me satisfaction, because I thought it would be more difficult. Having done this, with these objectives, it shows that there is potential, there is life, there is activity, action, products and the will to export», said the leader of the Algarve businessmen.
Taking into account the positive results of the project, at the International Forum for Regionalization a “request” was made to CCDR Algarve, since Internacionalizar+Algarve was funded by CRESC Algarve 2020: a new, broader edition.
“Many companies based in high-density areas, but operating in low-density areas, could not be part of this project. For this reason, I proposed to the president of the CCDR that he expand the program to other regions, as many of them expressed interest,” said Vítor Neto.
For the president of NERA, «the presentation of the project gave an opportunity to reflect on the fundamental problems of the Algarve, or of the various “Algarves” that exist, on the structural imbalance of the region in economic and business terms and allowed to reflect on the need to build a strategy that allows to bring together all the diversity in a single strategy for the region».
Internacionalizar+Algarve had NERA and CRIA as promoters and a partnership with AMAL, from the municipalities of Alcoutim, Aljezur, Castro Marim, Loulé, Monchique, Silves, Tavira and Vila do Bispo, from Associação In Loco, from Associação Terras do Lower Guadiana, of Odiana and Vicentina.
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