What are the region’s priorities?
The Alentejo region of southern Portugal has around 758.700 inhabitants and its area represents roughly one third of the Portuguese territory. In 2009, its GDP per capita was 72.2% of the EU average and its relative weight in the Portuguese GDP is 6.4%.
The region boasts rich and diversified natural resources that have in some cases not yet been fully exploited, while still hosting a rich well preserved natural environment and cultural heritage. Its main priorities are to develop its huge agricultural potential - the region is already one of the world's leading producers of cork- as well as its growing agro-food industry sector and to attract investment in new industries as well as in tourism.
One of the main poles of development is linked to the Alqueva dam and the irrigation systems developed as well as the hydropower capacity built. The new infrastructures should not only allow increasing certain agricultural productions (olive oil, wine, fruits) and attract new ones (corn) and develop tourism, they would also reduce the regions' exposure to drought risks.
Another development pole is the port of Sines, a fast growing container port and industry pole, mostly with energy production and chemical industries. Also the capital city of Évora has been able to attract some important foreign investments recently like for instance the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer which created 400 permanent jobs.
The region also seeks to improve its regional innovation system, providing support to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in order to improve their internationalization and to expand the role of cities as catalysts for regional economic and social development.
Finally, also the stones and mining sectors are seeing some new developments, for example with the reactivation of the mining complex of "Aljustrel" (copper production). The region gives priority to a sustainable path to the opening up of its economy, aiming to achieve a good overall quality of life, which can set an example in terms of environment and sustainability.
Ver destaque completo em:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/hahn/region/2012/11/07/index_en.cfm
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