José Manuel Bolieiro highlights “dialogue and investment” as cornerstones of Santa Maria’s development - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, delivered a positive assessment of the meeting with the Santa Maria Island Council, held at the Vila do Porto Municipal Library on Monday. According to him, the statutory visit reinforced dialogue with the island’s representatives, provided an opportunity to report on the work carried out, and helped to identify priorities for the future.

Among the main topics discussed were healthcare, road infrastructure, housing, maritime and air transport links, the development of the space sector, and the island’s economic indicators.

As for healthcare, José Manuel Bolieiro recalled his visit to the Santa Maria Island Health Centre, where he opened the new Computerised axial tomography (CT) scanner, an investment of €376,884, funded through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), which significantly improves the island’s diagnostic capacity.

“The new CT scanner represents an investment in people. We have provided healthcare professionals with better resources to put all their knowledge and expertise at the service of the population, enabling them to deliver higher-quality healthcare that is more accessible,” he said.

The President of the Regional Government also acknowledged the needs identified by the Island Council in the health sector, assuring that the Government will remain committed to addressing existing concerns, whilst noting that Santa Maria currently has GP coverage close to 99%.

Another key topic under discussion was the current conditions of the regional road network. In this regard, José Manuel Bolieiro recalled the opening of the Vila do Porto Bypass, a €6 million investment funded under the RRP, emphasising that the Government has been seeking to maximise the available resources to improve strategic infrastructure.

Nevertheless, the head of the Azorean Government acknowledged the need for intervention on other regional roads.

“We fully understand this demand from the population of Santa Maria. For many years, there has been a lack of investment capacity, partly due to the absence of EU funding and partly due to the requirements to meet the RRP targets. We are aware of this challenge and will continue to work to restore this infrastructure,” he said.

In the area of housing, José Manuel Bolieiro highlighted the ongoing work supported by RRP funds to increase the housing supply on the island, with a particular focus on the regeneration of the airport housing stock. This process has been challenging, requiring the resolution of various administrative and technical constraints.

As for transport links, the President of the Regional Government noted that one of the requests made during the previous statutory visit has already been met, with the freight service now running weekly rather than fortnightly, ensuring a more regular supply of goods to the island.

José Manuel Bolieiro also highlighted the strong cooperation among the Regional Government, the Municipality of Vila do Porto and the Portuguese Space Agency, noting that Santa Maria continues to establish itself as a strategic asset for the Azores, Portugal and the European Union in access to and return from space.

"The Space Technology Centre represents a unique opportunity for Santa Maria. We are investing in the economy of the future, based on innovation, new technologies and making the most of the Azores’ geostrategic position," he emphasised.

At the end of the meeting, the President of the Regional Government considered that the statutory visit had fully achieved its goals.

"A statutory visit does not provide immediate solutions to all problems, but it does provide what is essential in governance: dialogue, consultation, accountability and a commitment to the island’s development," he declared.

The meeting also highlighted various indicators reflecting Santa Maria’s economic development. In 2025, unemployment fell by 22%, local companies' turnover grew by 26%, freight transport increased by 22%, hospitality revenue rose by 8% and overnight stays in private accommodation increased by 24%. Moreover, inter-island flights to Santa Maria registered an average occupancy rate two percentage points higher than in 2024.

It was also emphasised that the island’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by around 9% between 2019 and 2024. According to José Manuel Bolieiro, these figures show that Santa Maria is consolidating a path towards sustained growth and development.