GENERAL INSIGHTS OF THE PORTUGUESE MARITIME ECONOMY AND PARTICULARLY OF THE ALGARVE REGION: CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS A STRATEGIC VISION

Abstract

The purpose of the current paper is to provide a critical characterization and evaluation of the current situation concerning the more relevant maritime sectors in Portugal and particularly in the Algarve region. It aims to contribute to a necessary and urgent debate on relation to the absolute need for a new strategic vision for Portugal and for the Algarve, based on a new set of distinctive factors capable of levering the competitiveness of the economy. In face of this crucial challenge, a cluster approach for the economy of the sea is defended in this article. To take full advantage of the immense natural resources offered by the enormous Portuguese EEZ requires a coordinated and integrated effort through interactive and mutually interdependent processes of coopetition, involving private and public actors, companies and their clients and suppliers, I&D institutions, sectoral organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. The creation of a dynamic and virtuous Diamond for the maritime economy begins by understanding what are the main characteristics and distinctive factors that can substantiate the proposal of a differentiation framework for a national and/or regional maritime cluster