José Manuel Bolieiro opens new RIAC-RIAE office in Vila do Porto - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, accompanied by the Regional Secretary for Finance, Planning and Public Administration, Duarte Freitas, chaired today the opening of the new RIAC-RIAE Office in Vila do Porto, Santa Maria, during the Government's statutory visit to that island.

This office combines, in a single space, the services provided by RIAC – Integrated Citizen Support Network and RIAE – Integrated Entrepreneurial Support Network at the heart of the town, promoting proximity and efficiency in supporting the population and the local business community.

The completion of this project fulfils a commitment made by the Regional Government in 2022, which provided for the installation of RIAE in all municipalities of the archipelago of the Azores. In Santa Maria, an innovative model was chosen to integrate both services in a new building, representing an investment of about 30 thousand Euros.

The merger of RIAC and RIAE services contributes to the rationalisation of resources and translates into estimated annual savings of 10 thousand Euros, without compromising the quality and scope of the services provided.

"This is another step in our mission to promote a public administration that is accessible, effective and capable of responding to the needs of citizens and entrepreneurs. We are keeping our word and developing Santa Maria with quality services," stated José Manuel Bolieiro.

The integrated RIAC-RIAE network is already present on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa, Flores, and Corvo, and now includes Santa Maria. The commitment to expanding this partnership has proven to be a success among the Azorean population, providing faster, more personalised, and more accessible service.

The new RIAC-RIAE office in Vila do Porto ensures specialised assistance to local citizens and entrepreneurs, providing direct support, answering questions and simplifying access to Regional Public Administration services.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the professionals of this integrated network for their commitment and dedication. This training programme, now implemented in Santa Maria, is a source of satisfaction for all of us,” emphasised the President of the Government.

With this new initiative, the Regional Government continues its efforts to modernise its administration and enhance public services, promoting territorial cohesion and balanced development across all islands of the archipelago.