Situated in the Atlantic North, 1450 km from the Portuguese mainland, the Azores is an archipelago of 9 islands with 250 000 inhabitants.
The geostrategic position of the Azores, its large maritime exclusive economic zone and rich biodiversity are strong assets. It is a privileged location for the development of spatial technologies, a solid blue growth sector and tourism.
Agriculture is essential for the region´s economy (e.g. production of beef and milk). The local production of pineapple, wine and canned fish can become a realcompetitive asset.
But the region faces many challenges. The unemployment rate of young people is more than double the EU average. Low level of qualification and early school leaving remain issues.