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1. What is the long-term vision you have regarding the development of your municipality?
The vision for the Municipality of Penela concentrates on strategic objectives related to education, development of the economic structure and cultural tourism.
We want a municipality which can be distinguished through environmental excellence, quality of education, valorisation of its socio-cultural uniqueness and by a clear option for innovation as factor of consolidation of a sustainable and multifunctional economy.
Synthesising, the vision in our strategic action plan for the next decade is: "local resources serving innovation, innovation serving local resources."
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2. Why do you consider your municipality to be attractive as a location for companies and businesses?
The Municipality of Penela has a privileged location in the Centro region, firstly because it is close to a national distribution road network - the North-South link - A1 and IC3. Another added value is the short distance to Coimbra, one of the urban centres of major regional relevance.
Apart of the geographical factors already pointed out before, the atmosphere in the municipality nowadays is strongly focused on a strategy of territorial valorisation through economic development, fixation of industrial, commercial, and hotel/restauration companies.
A third important factor is the quality of life that staff and employees of companies can benefit in a region unique in nature and cultural heritage. Penela offers a set of public facilities, e.g. a modern library, facilities for child care, indoor swimming pools, multifunctional pavilions, music academy, tennis school and others.
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3. Do you think that the municipality has a vocation and is in the position to receive Foreign Direct Investment?
One of the municipality’s key projects is the creation of a new business park, which is part of the recently concluded strategic development plan of Penela.
This new business park is assigned to attract qualified, innovative, competitive and entrepreneurial national and foreign investment.
Apart of that, the municipality has a high vocation to attract investment in the areas of tourism and health, due to its territorial and patrimonial specificities. In the existing industrial areas there are lots available mainly to national investors.
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4. And concerning Domestic Investors?
See previous answer.
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5. Is there any person or service available with the task to support potential investors who are considering establishing their production units in your municipality?
There is a Cabinet for Innovation, Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship (GAICE) exclusively dedicated to actions related to the creation and settlement of new companies, as well as to support restructuring already existing companies.
GAICE is a "one stop office" led by two specialists, which are in charge for the services and activities related to promotion and development of innovation, competitiveness and entrepreneurship.
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6. Which specific incentives could be offered to entrepreneurs who intend establishing their units in your municipality?
The municipality of Penela has a support plan for investment, which includes the offer of lots in the existing industrial areas for a symbolic price, award of subsidies for job creation, a set of other incentives and logistic support, and as well exemption of licensing taxes.
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7. What is the availability of labour in the area?
There is availability of specialised manpower in our region, which is originating from various education and knowledge centres, like for instance the University of Coimbra. Another highly visible fact is the presence of generic, mainly female manpower within the age group 25 to 45 years.
The municipality has as well an information centre (UNIVA) which maintains a database of people currently unemployed and looking for new placements.
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8. How is the municipality being promoted so as to attract investors?
The municipality promotes the attraction of investment through its portal. As part of the Strategic Plan, a partnership network forming an Advisory Council was established, which includes regional entities linked to education, culture, economic development, research, etc.
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9. Is there an intermunicipal perspective of investment due to the fact that the municipality is integrated in the Terras de Sicó Territory Association? And what advantages could that bring to the investor?
The principal advantages are due to the fact that Terras de Sicó is a homogeneous territory. The Association Terras de Sicó built during the last 15 years a chain of developments and solidarity concentrated on a set of endogenous products like wines, the Rabaçal cheese, honey, nuts and olive oil, which promote our tradition and enable some development of the local agricultural activity.
Investors find here a larger region situated between Coimbra and Leiria, with mountains and sea and with a long tradition of inter-municipal relationships.
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10. Is there a specific message you have for potential investors?
The message I want to pass to each one of you can be simply described with one word: proximity. We are here close by, ready to receive you and to understand better what your real needs are in order to realise your investment.
When you arrive in our region you will feel welcomed and notice sympathy. For us each investor is one more step to realise a dream … in an area where the past was bright and the future will we successful!
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