At the opening session, the president of the Ribeira Grande Municipal Council, Jaime Vieira, highlighted the municipality's strong industrial potential and the historical connection of its people to productive activity and the transformation of natural resources.
The mayor pointed to civil construction, the agri-food industry, tea production, fishing, and geothermal energy as some of the sectors that demonstrate the industrial relevance of Ribeira Grande in the regional context. Jaime Vieira particularly noted the presence of the only two tea factories in Europe still operating in the municipality, as well as the importance of the dairy industry and seafood processing, especially in Rabo de Peixe.
For the head of the municipality, this heritage encompasses companies, knowledge, production processes, and activities that continue to generate employment, wealth, and opportunities. In this regard, he advocated for industrial tourism as an opportunity to diversify the tourism offer, enhance local identity, and bring visitors closer to the territory's history, communities, and business reality.
The meeting, promoted by the Regional Directorate of Tourism, Turismo de Portugal, and Visit Azores, provided an opportunity to strengthen networking and cooperation between public entities, companies, and tourism agents, contributing to affirming the Azores in the national industrial tourism landscape.
