Coimbra shares good practices with Brazilian mayors in the area of urban innovation

The Coimbra City Council (CM) received a delegation from the National Front of Mayors (FNP) of Brazil yesterday, June 25, in a meeting marked by the exchange of good practices in digital transformation, urban innovation and the revitalization of local commerce. The deputy mayor of Coimbra, Francisco Veiga, welcomed the delegation.

The FNP delegation was welcomed by the deputy mayor of Coimbra, Francisco Veiga, who highlighted the importance of international cooperation and the cultural and strategic affinities between Portugal and Brazil.

The focal point of the visit was the presentation of the “@Baixa Coimbra” project, funded through the program Digital Commercial Neighbourhoods, under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The application was submitted in consortium with the Agency for the Promotion of Downtown Coimbra (APBC) and Coimbra Mais Futuro.

This project aims to promote the digital transformation of local commerce, strengthen territorial cohesion and boost the traditional economy through digitalization and technological innovation, introducing significant changes to the business model. The planned investment is 1.236 million euros, said Francisco Veiga.

The project was presented by the director of the Department of Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Competitiveness and Investment, António Albuquerque, who highlighted the role and excellent performance of Rosa Gonçalves, the Bairro’s manager, with the traders, and by the director of the Department of Information Technology and Digital Innovation, Nuno Santos.

The FNP’s visit strengthens the ties of institutional cooperation between Portugal and Brazil in the area of urban management, technologies and innovation, demonstrating the role of local government in the process of digital transformation, empowerment of traders and modernization of companies and commercial establishments in the geographical area of the neighbourhood.

The initiative is part of a broader agenda of institutional partnerships and cultural exchange relations between Portuguese-speaking municipalities, promoting the management of public policies and the sharing of good practices, with a relevant impact on the economic and sustainable development of the territories.

Photo credits: Coimbra City Council | João Afonso Sobral

Coimbra shares good practices with Brazilian mayors in the area of urban innovation – coimbra.pt