An e-commerce and Business Cooperation accord was presented to the world today in Faro. The agreement aims to deepen the collaboration and expand e-commerce opportunities between companies in the Algarve and Andalusia in Spain.
Faro councillor Paulo Santos explained that the cross-border project is an important initiative to encourage and facilitate business cooperation between companies in the Algarve and Andalusia, adding "It is important that there is synergy to support the economy in these two areas."
"The agreement will enable the provision of support to boost cooperative entrepreneurship and take advantage of synergies and business opportunities, and create jobs and strengthen cooperation," said Carlos Luis, president of the Confederation of Businessmen in the Algarve (CEAL) who introduced the agreement in Faro today.
Despite the waffle about synergies and entrepreneurship, in practical terms the project will invest around €1 million to enable businesses in the regions to cooperate mostly in the marketing or oranges and soft fruits and is targeted primarily at young farmers who are conversant with e-commerce and social media.
The project is co-financed by the Operational Programme for Cross-Border Cooperation Spain - Portugal (POCTEP) with eight partners coordinated by the Spanish city of La Palma del Condado.
Sadly, there is a board made up of worthies from regional associations and councils including Faro council, the Spanish municipalities of La Palma del Condado, Pablos de la Frontera, Almonte and Lepe, CEAL, and the Union of Associations of Autonomous Workers and Entrepreneurs.
"Today we have widened the bridge between Portugal and Andalusia. We are very pleased that Andalusia and Portugal now have an economic relationship," said the mayor of La Palma del Condado.
Whether the million euros will be used sensibly, accurately accounted for and used for the intended purpose is anyone's guess. The project runs until next June so the board has €66,000 a month to distribute.
