Speaking at the close of the Congress of the Aveiro Region, in front of representatives of municipalities and various public entities, Castro Almeida acknowledged that the Intermunicipal Community of the Aveiro Region “is already implementing a significant financial package of European funds from the Centro 2030 program.”
“I appeal to all those involved in this process, which is truly patriotic, to make every effort to ensure the maximum execution of the funds at our disposal,” he said.
According to the minister, “Meeting the targets is ensuring the contract of trust with the European Commission,” which is “a fundamental issue.”
Highlighting “the importance of quickly and effectively utilizing the available funds,” Castro Almeida stressed that “the Portuguese State has a set of very ambitious execution targets for this year.”
“This implies that everyone – the promoters, the state authorities, the intermediary bodies, the auditors – must be well aware of their role in this collective commitment not to waste a single euro at our disposal,” he stated.
Praising the export capacity of the Aveiro region and its economic dynamism, Castro Almeida stated that “it is important to continue focusing on the growth of exports and the diversification of goods as a way to achieve this goal.”
“The State must decisively invest in the export of goods and services, aiming for a value above 50%, reaching close to 55%, which is a very ambitious goal, given that we are currently at 46.5%,” he noted.
The export-oriented nature of the Aveiro region, as he pointed out, “makes it the second intermunicipal community in the national territory, right after Greater Lisbon, in the synthetic index of regional development.”
