The Azores’ proposed 2027 Regional Annual Plan includes approximately €8.7 million for the redevelopment of Praia da Vitória’s multipurpose port terminal, alongside investments in Lajes Airport, healthcare, social services, education, and regional infrastructure.
The redevelopment of the multipurpose terminal at the Port of Praia da Vitória is among the principal investments planned for Terceira Island in 2027, according to the preliminary proposal for the Azores’ Regional Annual Plan.
The project is allocated approximately €8.7 million, primarily financed through funding sources outside the regional government’s direct budget. The initiative forms part of a broader program of strategic investments intended to modernize maritime infrastructure and strengthen transportation facilities throughout the archipelago.
The proposal also allocates nearly €2 million for the rehabilitation of the Port of Pipas building in Angra do Heroísmo and other related improvements, including approximately €1.77 million from external funding sources.
Additional maritime investments include the planned acquisition of electric tugboats for the ports of Praia da Vitória and Ponta Delgada. Across the Azores, the regional plan also identifies major projects involving the new port at Lajes das Flores, coastal protection and improvements at Cais do Pico, and modernization of Horta’s commercial port.
Lajes Airport is another major priority, with €4.2 million earmarked for the maintenance, conservation, and improvement of its civilian terminal and associated infrastructure.
Approximately €3.5 million will support maintenance, equipment, and operational requirements, including improvements to buildings, roofs, outdoor facilities, and supporting infrastructure.
The proposal also includes €150,000 to strengthen Terceira’s air connectivity by attracting additional routes and frequencies, consolidating existing services, and promoting the island among airlines, tour operators, and other strategic partners.
According to the planning document, these initiatives are intended to develop new tourism markets, increase passenger traffic, and encourage a more balanced distribution of visitors throughout the Azores.
Regional road improvements on Terceira are expected to receive approximately €2 million.
Beyond transportation, the preliminary plan identifies significant investments in healthcare and social services.
The plan proposes €2.4 million to establish a continuing-care facility at Lar D. Pedro V in Praia da Vitória, expanding services for individuals requiring ongoing medical and social support.
Another €2.5 million is allocated to create a social assistance, support, and rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, operated by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Angra do Heroísmo.
The Centro Social e Paroquial da Ribeirinha is expected to receive €1 million to build a day center. In comparison, the plan proposes €800,000 for the rehabilitation of the Escola Básica Integrada dos Biscoitos.
Together, these investments reflect a regional development strategy combining transportation modernization with improvements in essential public services.
For Praia da Vitória, the planned port redevelopment carries particular economic significance. Maritime infrastructure remains fundamental to the movement of goods, commercial activity, and the island’s connections with the wider Atlantic economy.
The proposed improvements at Lajes Airport also underline the importance of air transportation to Terceira’s economic development, particularly as the island seeks to strengthen tourism and improve its connections with international markets.
Although the figures remain part of a preliminary proposal rather than a finalized investment program, they identify several of the principal infrastructure and social priorities for Terceira in 2027.
The central challenge will be translating these financial commitments into completed projects that improve transportation, strengthen public services, and create lasting benefits for the island’s communities.
Source and credits: Based on reporting published in Diário Insular concerning the preliminary proposal for the Azores Regional Annual Plan for 2027. Adapted into an English-language news feature. All investment amounts refer to proposed allocations and remain subject to the regional planning and approval process. The photo is from the Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória.