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ALENTEJO
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GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHY
The Alentejo region lies to the South of Portugal, limited in the North by the Tagus River and to the South by the Algarve mountain ridge. The east boundary is formed by the Spanish regions of Extremadura and Andalusia and to the west lays the Atlantic Ocean. In terms of highways, the region is linked to Lisbon, to the Algarve and Spain. Furthermore, the Sines harbour is the major infrastructure linking the area to the Atlantic ocean and the whole world. Important airfields include the Military Base in Beja and the Municipal airfield in Évora, used intensively for sporting activities. The Alentejo area amounts to 27.323,9 sq. kilometres, corresponding to approximately 1/3 of the national territory. It is characterized mainly by vast flat to rolling country, the peneplain, where some mountain ridges reach 600 meters: Ossa, Portel, Grândola and Monfurado. The São Mamede mountain ridge, the highest in the region with an altitude of 1000 meters, lies in the extreme North. The resident population in Alentejo totals 776.585 individuals. As to other demographic registers, the birth rate is of 8,4/1000 (inferior to the national figure), the death rate is of 14,2/1000 (higher than the national average) and child mortality rate corresponds to 3,6/1000, which represents an inferior value comparatively to the country’s average. The Alentejo region shows a population density of 19,6 inhab./sq. kilometres, much lower than the national figure of 112,4 inhab./sq. kilometres.
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INFRASTRUCTURES
The region have a infrastructures covering enough its territory: motorways, railroads and roads. |
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ECONOMY
According to statistic data from 1999, the Alentejo regional GDP totalled 4,1% of the National GDP, an amount which, in terms of market prices, corresponds to ¤ 4.400.000.000. The GDP per capita (in K EUR) in the region is 8,6% of the national GDP per capita. Primary sector is the main one, contributing 15% to the region's GVA and representing 26% of this sector's GVA in Portugal. The main crops are cereals for grain as a rain-fed crop, whose output makes up over 75% of the country's total rain-fed cereals. In the secondary sector, accounting for 27% of the GVA of the region, the extractive industries are particularly important. Their main activities are the extraction of ornamental stone and copper pyrites. The services sector account for 58% of the GVA of the region in 2000. The distributive trades play an important role in the tertiary sector since they represent over 80% of this sector's trade volume in the region. Tourism plays an important role in regional economy.
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LABOUR MARKET
The total number of population economically active and employed in 2001 totals 323.167 individuals. The employment rate is 45% of the total workforce. The female employment rate reaches 38,8%, whereas the male one is 52,4%. Unemployed population in the Alentejo region in 2001 totalled 29.782 individuals, a figure which corresponds to an unemployment rate of about 8,4%. Gender-wise, female unemployment in the region is higher than male unemployment, corresponding to 12,5% and 5,3% respectively. The Number of persons employed in the agricultural sector is 38.700 individuals. In terms of the secondary sector, data reveal a total of 90.294 individuals working in activities related to industry. Finally, the number of individuals employed in the tertiary sector amounts to 194.173 individuals developing activities in the service sector. We can, therefore, conclude that the service sector is the most expressive in terms of employed population in the Alentejo region. |
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DATA RELATED TO REGIONAL STRUCTURAL FUNDS MECHANISM
The region belongs to EU Objective 1 for the reference period 2000-2006.
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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The total R&D spending is 0,54% of regional GDP (public investments 0,23%, private investments 0,07%, Government investments 0,06% and University 0,17%).
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DATA RELATED TO REGIONAL PROGRAMME OF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS
Region RPIA - Regional Programme of Innovative Actions - Strategic theme: 1. Regional economy based on knowledge and technological innovation; 2. e-EuropeRegio: information society for regional development; 3. Regional identity and sustainable development. The total cost was Euro 3.137.000. The Region RPIA action lines were:- 1. Regional economy based on knowledge and technological innovation: Development of a Regional Strategic Plan of Innovation; Set-up a Technological and Innovation Centre of Investigation – “ Economic Intelligence Observatory” Set-up a Financial Fund to support experiences and innovative companies; Stimulate innovation and the use of new information and communication technologies through awareness / competency training of youth);
- 2. e-EuropeRegio: information society for regional development (Set-up a Business to Business Portal);
- 3. Regional identity and sustainable development (Merge Innovation and Traditional Values);
- 4. Follow-up measures (Project management; Participation in Innovation networks);
- 5. Technical Assistance (External evaluation of the PRAI-ALENTEJO).
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