Vila Real de Santo António will have an aquaculture unit of the Jerónimo Martins Group, which represents an investment of 10 million euros and will allow the creation of 40 jobs.
The auction in Vila Real de Santo António was the scene, this Wednesday, March 1st, of the ratification of the concession contract between Docapesca and Seaculture – Grupo Jerónimo Martins for the installation of a set of infrastructures to support aquaculture and processing and packaging of fish.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Maria do Céu Antunes, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Docapesca Sérgio Faias and the Chief of Staff of the CEO of Jerónimo Martins Agroalimentar – Seaculture João Ferreira.
The project represents an investment of 10 million euros and will allow the creation of 40 jobs. It includes the installation of 28 production units at sea, the construction from scratch of an operational building with a warehouse and a fish packing area, as well as a support pier.
The infrastructure is expected to have the capacity to produce around 1500 tons of sea bream and sea bass by 2025, the project's cruising year.
According to João Ferreira, the undertaking represents «a commitment with the region and with the food economy», considering that «the Algarve has a validated technical profile for the practice of aquaculture offshore».
For Álvaro Araújo, mayor of VRSA, «the installation of this unit in the city constitutes a strategic partnership that will contribute to the development of the municipality and its economic fabric, allowing the creation of more jobs».
Álvaro Araújo also announced the existence of a proposal aimed at setting up a canning factory in the city, with around 8 hectares, which will allow the fishing tradition to be reactivated in VRSA, having appealed to the guardianship to create the conditions for the realization of the investment.
For her part, the Minister of Agriculture referred that her Ministry is committed to providing the necessary conditions for aquaculture and for the enhancement of fish, committing, likewise, to endorse the possibilities of installing a canning factory in Vila Real de Santo António.
The visit by the Minister of Agriculture and Food was part of the «Closer Government» initiative, which took place on the 1st and 2nd of March, and included visits to outstanding projects in the Algarve region.
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