“Buying local means supporting our commerce, our economy, and, ultimately, the development of our territory.” With those words, Vânia Ferreira, president of the Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória, opened Expo Praia 2026 on Friday afternoon, May 15, calling on residents to reinforce their commitment to local businesses and the economic vitality of Terceira Island.

The annual business and commercial fair took place through Sunday, May 17, in a large exhibition tent installed beside the Paul da Praia da Vitória, bringing together approximately sixty commercial stands, institutional exhibitors, restaurants, entertainment spaces, and family-oriented programming.

For Vânia Ferreira, the sustainability of local commerce depends fundamentally upon the continuous support of the community itself.

“Whenever we choose to buy locally, we are supporting businesses from our land, preserving jobs, encouraging investment, and strengthening the island’s economy,” the mayor stated. “Every local purchase is also an investment in our community.”

Her remarks reflected a growing concern shared across many island economies: that globalization, inflationary pressures, and shifting consumer habits increasingly challenge the survival of traditional commerce and smaller regional enterprises.

At the same time, Ferreira emphasized that entrepreneurship today demands more than determination alone. According to the mayor, businesses face an environment requiring constant innovation, resilience, adaptability, and long-term strategic vision.

“It is precisely here that the role of public institutions and associative entities becomes even more important,” she argued. “It is our responsibility to create conditions that support those who invest, create jobs, and energize our economy.”

The mayor presented fairs such as Expo Praia 2026 as one practical measure within a broader economic development strategy that also includes urban rehabilitation, improvements in transportation and accessibility, incentives for business modernization, workforce qualification, and efforts to increase the economic attractiveness of the island.

“By working in partnership, listening to entrepreneurs, and responding to their needs,” Ferreira explained, “we will be able to build an economy that is stronger, more competitive, and better prepared for the future.”

The mayor also noted that, following an internal reorganization process, the municipality now considers itself financially stronger, more responsive, and better equipped to support local businesses and merchants.

Vânia Ferreira was joined during the opening ceremony by Marcos Couto, president of the Câmara do Comércio e Indústria de Angra do Heroísmo (CCIAH), which partnered with the municipality in organizing the event for the second consecutive year.

“This is a fair created for entrepreneurs, but also for the entire community,” the mayor concluded. “That is why I leave a very simple, but very important appeal: let us value local commerce.”

Beyond its commercial dimension, Expo Praia 2026 once again highlighted the central role local business fairs continue to play within Azorean civic life. In island communities where economic relationships remain deeply personal and interconnected, such events become more than marketplaces. They serve as public affirmations of resilience, cooperation, and the enduring belief that the future of the islands depends not only on external investment, but also on the capacity of communities to sustain themselves through local initiative, entrepreneurship, and mutual support.

Translated and adapted from a Press Release. Photos also from the Municipality of Praia da Vitória.