The Algarve Municipalities Association (AMAL) approved last Friday an Economic Recovery Plan for the Algarve, featuring 33 projects that the association views as priorities to overcome the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Headlining the plan is the construction of the Algarve Central Hospital, which has been in the pipeline since 2006 but has yet to move forward (click here).
In January, AMAL’s boss António Pina had already stressed the importance of building a new central hospital in the region.
Now he feels it is important to recognise the Algarve’s vital role in the treatment of Covid-19 patients and “how it showed solidarity to the country”, Pina said, referring to the care provided to patients from other parts of the country at Portimão’s field hospital.
“I hope that when this is all over, the country (government) will show solidarity back by confirming the construction of the Algarve Central Hospital,” he added.
Meanwhile, the development of Portimão’s commercial port, Faro’s bid to become European Capital of Culture and the construction of the Algarve Biomedical Center (ABC) Loulé Health Research Center are also among the listed projects, as well as the construction of a desalination plant and the renovation and electrification of the Algarve railway.
“The goal of this plan is to use public investment to help the region respond to the crisis and prepare it for the future, making it more cohesive, competitive, resilient and sustainable, whilst at the same time mobilising private investment in order to boost the potential for growth and economic dynamism that these public projects generate,” the association said in a communiqué to the press.
Said AMAL, the projects are divided into “theme packages” detailing which ones are most relevant to each municipality.
The plan had been in the works since last year, with the help of the Faculty of Economy of the University of the Algarve – and is meant only to be a guide. In other words, it can be adjusted over time in order to meet the needs of the region, the association said.
