Government studies non-refundable support for small business owners affected by bad weather

The Government is studying the granting of non-refundable financial support to small business owners whose businesses were affected by bad weather, the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion revealed today.

In a press conference, in the middle of a meeting of the Territorial Concertation Council, at the headquarters of the Alentejo Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), in Évora, Manuel Castro Almeida confirmed that the measure is being considered.

“The Government is considering the possibility of providing support to very small entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises with a limited turnover, which have a lot of difficulty in accessing credit and who may benefit from small amounts of lost background”, he added.

Asked about a date for this resolution to be taken, the minister simply replied that the executive is “deal with the matter carefully and sense of priority to make a decision quickly and effectively”.

At the press conference, Castro Almeida also highlighted that the Government is “trying to make the country more resilient for the future and prepare the country for upcoming adversities”, alluding to Portugal Transformation, Recovery and Resilience, .

“This involves the entire country, including the autonomous regions, and will now require the participation from different levels and institutionswhether from local authorities, academic and scientific institutions, or from the entire level of associations, from social partners at the most diverse levels”, he said.

The holder of the Economy and Territorial Cohesion portfolios highlighted that the Government is “looking for create, in a short time, an ambitious and consistent program”predicting that the PTRR could be approved in early April.

“We are all aware of the difficulties that the country faces, but I felt that there is a great determination to overcome these difficulties and, above all, to prepare the country so that, in future situations, it is better equipped to respond to difficulties and avoid damage”, he added.

The meeting of the Territorial Concertation Council, which was initially attended by the prime minister, Luis Montenegrohad the participation of the ministers of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Infrastructure and Housing, Health, Environment and Energy, Culture, Youth and Sports and Agriculture and Sea, five secretaries of state and representatives of mayors and other entities.

O Territorial Concertation Council is the political body that promotes consultation and coordination between the Government and the different regional and sub-regional political entities, at the regional, sub-regional and local levels.

Eighteen people died in Portugal following the passage of depressions, and, which caused hundreds of injuries and displacement. The Centro, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo regions were the most affected.