The Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, the Secretary of State for Labor, Miguel Fontes, and the Secretary of State for Inclusion, Ana Sofia Antunes, attended the opening ceremony of the Active Aging Competence Center (CCEA) in Loulé.

The new facility aims to 'train and empower all individuals who deal in any way with aging, and therefore develop techniques for promoting active aging in its various dimensions,' said Ana Mendes Godinho.

Training will also be provided to employees of entities involved in providing care to the elderly, informal caregivers of the elderly, and entities promoting the creation and development of projects in these areas.

It can also be seen 'as a key partner in shaping public policies dedicated to aging,' she added.

The Active Aging Competence Center is a protocol center, with signatories including the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, the Social Security Institute, and institutions within the Portuguese Network for Active and Healthy Aging, including the University of Beira Interior and the Association for the Development of the Center for Biomedical Research and Training in the Algarve.

The Minister stated that the new structure 'can be an instrument not only for the empowerment and training of individuals but also as a key partner in shaping public policies dedicated to aging.'

The CCEA will start operating in the IEFP building in Loulé, but during the ceremony, a protocol was also signed between the Municipal Council and the Institute for the concession of the land where new facilities will be built. The funding for CCEA is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

'The pandemic has shown that it is really necessary to invest in qualifications, in what makes a difference, in the valorization of workers, in the empowerment of people aligned with the challenges and competencies of the future,' emphasized the Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security.