The Vice-Presidency of the Government, through the Regional Center for Handicrafts (CRAA), promotes between February 15th and March 31st, the period of applications for the Incentive System for the Development of Handicrafts of the Azores (SIDART) for the year 2017.
The support, according to an order published today in the Official Journal, includes projects that range from training to the investment in the Handicraft Production Units (UPA) based in the Region.
Under SIDART, created by the Azorean Agenda for Job Creation and Business Competitiveness, the Regional Government supported 130 projects in 2016, representing a total investment of 374 thousand euros.
Currently, 518 artisanal production units are registered in the Azores, when in 2012 they were 359, which translates into an increase of 45% in just four years.
The emergence of 159 more companies reveals a new dynamism in the sector and is part of the strategic objectives of encouraging the use of new business opportunities, boosted by the increase in tourist flow, creation of own employment and new jobs, as well as the contribution for the fixation of the populations and young people, in a perspective of harmonious development of the Region, valuing the raw materials and arts that exist in each island.
Applications to SIDART are made on CRAA’s website at www.artesanato.azores.gov.pt.
Ponta Delgada, February 3rd, 2017
GaCS / OG