Proposals for 2025 Plan and Budget delivered to Azorean Parliament - Communication

Secretaria Regional das Finanças, Planeamento e Administração Pública

The Regional Secretary for Finance, Planning and Public Administration, Duarte Freitas, and the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, delivered the proposals for the 2025 Plan and Budget to the President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA), Luís Garcia, in Horta today.

Duarte Freitas pointed out that the documents come at a “solid moment for the Azorean economy,” with the economy growing for 40 months and the private consumption indicator growing for 42 months.

“The problem with the Azorean economy is the lack of workforce,” he acknowledged, recalling the coalition's tax approach and “political choices” that include maintaining the “Azores Fare,” the tax differential or the end of agricultural apportionments.

“These are annual policy options that another government could choose” not to implement, he recalled.

In 2025, there will be increases in areas such as education and health. The implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), the Azores 2030 and the recovery of the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital (HDES) are some of the Plan's main priorities.

“We are consistently growing and getting closer to the GDP per capita of Portugal and the European Union,” Duarte Freitas said, speaking at a press conference after the delivery of the Plan and Budget.

The documents were delivered to the ALRAA two days ahead of schedule, which guarantees more time for analysis by the members of the various political forces.