On the morning of May 12, the mayor of Figueira da Foz, Pedro Santana Lopes, and representatives of the MARSILOP/CIVIBÉRICA Consortium, Nelson Pedro Santos Coelho and Paulo José Flórido de Almeida, formally signed the contract for the project “Pinha da Gandra Industrial and Business Area – Phase 2 Works" project, worth €4,524,934.52, plus VAT at the legal rate in force (6%).

The signing was preceded by an explanation of the project by the Head of the Studies and Projects Division, João Martins. He said that the first phase of the work included access to the main entrance of the industrial zone, with an investment of over half a million euros, and that this second phase includes the “completion of the industrial zone, internal roads, and the entire internal structure.”

João Martins emphasized that the 11 lots of the “first industrial zone of significant size in the north of the municipality” can be aggregated/unified, allowing for “investment by companies with areas that we do not have planned in other areas of the municipality,” and with an “almost unique” relationship with the aerodrome.

João Martins also presented a plan for what is expected to be done after the expansion of about 20 hectares of “this industrial zone,” namely a roundabout that will connect the expansion of the industrial zone to the future municipal aerodrome, which will occupy about 57 hectares.

"We have created a whole infrastructure here, both in terms of industry and aeronautics, which will create an almost unique relationship here and will greatly promote this northern area of the municipality,“ emphasized João Martins, who reported that the municipality is taking all necessary steps with Infraestruturas de Portugal to build a direct access road from the industrial zone to the A17 highway, ”given the specific nature of the goods that will be associated with this investment."

The representatives of the winning companies were very pleased with the trust placed in them and with being able to carry out “this partnership and this important work.” According to Pedro Coelho, the work will be carried out with three fundamental factors in mind: “compliance with environmental issues, compliance with safety issues, and quality so that in the end the work is as the designer intended and the owner wants.”

Pedro Santana Lopes highlighted the “good impression that the municipality has of the contractors” and “the work they have done for the municipality to date.”

He also explained why “this ceremony” was being held on site: “So that we can get an idea today of how it is, looking at the almost pristine state of the areas where this industrial zone will be located and what it will be like in the future.”

Although, due to legal requirements, he is not yet able to disclose the name of the company that will set up in this industrial zone, Pedro Santana Lopes said that it is “a large industrial unit, which brings added value, particularly in the area of innovation and research, which works for the world's major technology companies and will create around 300 jobs right from the start.”

The mayor once again raised the issue of the public auction and the steps being taken with the Central Region Coordination Commission to ensure that it does not “take place under the normally established terms, because there cannot be a public auction for a global investor and then be done lot by lot,” he argued.

“Municipalities cannot be penalized for receiving a large investment and losing European funds because they cannot hold a public auction under the terms in which it is planned, when such financial support exists,” emphasized Pedro Santana Lopes.

“We, however bold this statement may be, would be willing to forego these European funds so as not to jeopardize the investment that will be made here, such is the importance of the investment for the municipality,” the mayor stressed.

Furthermore, he considered that “it would be criminal,” and therefore expressed his “absolute certainty that the central and regional government bodies will approve this support and defend this change.”

The mayor argued that “the new areas already provided for in the Municipal Master Plan, in the zoning plans, in which the investor is also interested, and then the development of the aerodrome project with private companies, seeking to bring in other municipalities that are also interested and whose studies are underway, will naturally bring development to this area.”

Pedro Santana Lopes also addressed the Figueira da Foz Commercial and Industrial Association, represented by its chairwoman, Vitória Abreu: “We count on your support, enthusiasm, and participation in defining the terms for welcoming all these investors who are arriving and will arrive.”

“All of this must be done on this path of progress among all of us,” emphasized the mayor.


Source: https://www.cm-figfoz.pt
Figueira da Foz