Artisans and Artisanal Production Units (UPAs) in the Azores that applied this year to the Incentive System for the Development of Azorean Handicrafts (SIDART) will receive a total of €200,000 in public support, as recently approved by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro.

In total, 150 applications were approved, with 71 for reimbursement of investments in UPAs, 44 for projects to qualify and innovate artisanal products, 30 for investment projects to boost the craft sector, and five applications for investments in craft capacity building.

“SIDART is a unique incentive system in the country. Due to its scope and predictability, this system has stimulated, each year, a series of investments not only in the defense and safeguarding of artisanal production, but also in its promotion, qualification and innovation,” explains Maria João Carreiro.

For the first time, the submission, processing, and validation of applications took place exclusively on the Azores Handicrafts portal, at artesanato.azores.gov.pt, which simplified procedures and allowed candidates to monitor all stages of the process.