The six municipalities that make up the Intermunicipal Community (CIM) of Cávado expressed unequivocal political support for the territorial convergence process aimed at creating a future Metropolitan Area of Minho, covering the territories of Cávado, Ave, and Alto Minho. In a statement, CIM states that this support stems from the recognition that regions play an essential role in achieving sustainable development goals and in building a more prosperous future for communities.
The president of the Intermunicipal Council of CIM Cávado, Mário Constantino, stated that Minho already exists as an economic, social, cultural, and human reality, but that it is necessary to transform this reality into a political and institutional force. He emphasized that the union between the three territories does not mean erasing identities or specificities, but rather combining forces, gaining scale, and building a stronger voice to defend the interests of populations and businesses.
CIM highlights that the Minho territory is one of the regions that generates the most wealth for the country, with a Gross Domestic Product per capita of 23.1%, being the main national exporting territory with an export intensity of 49.8% and maintaining a low unemployment rate of approximately 7%. The community considers that the creation of a higher-scale structure will enable leveraging synergies, strengthening investment attraction capacity, and positioning Minho as a territory of innovation and competitiveness.
CIM Cávado argues that the future Metropolitan Area of Minho should result from a participatory process, based on the will of the municipalities and the capacity for coordination between the different territories and institutions of the region. Mário Constantino added that the goal is to build a scale leap that allows Minho to have a capacity for negotiation and influence far greater than what each territory can achieve in isolation.
