The President of the Government call for the attention of Azorean entrepreneurs and those of Azorean descent, challenging them to invest in the Azores, an "attractive" region for investment and a "gateway to Europe."

"The EU-USA Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a good opportunity for this possibility of cooperation," Vasco Cordeiro said, stressing that "the Azores play a key role in this area due their geostrategic position."

Vasco Cordeiro spoke at a meeting with Azorean citizens from Silicon Valley, members of the Prestige Network, entrepreneurs and members of the Young Portuguese American of California at a meeting held in San José on Wednesday. The event featured a presentation on "Investment Opportunities for the Azores" by the chairman of the Society for the Business Development of the Azores (SDEA), Arnaldo Machado.

For the President of the Government, "the current situation between the USA and the European Union is conducive to the implementation of such initiatives. In this regard, Vasco Cordeiro emphasised the importance of "disseminating the Azores of today, the new opportunities and the partnerships we would like to develop with those living in California that have share affective ties with the Azores."

"This is a time that allows us to present the Azores that were built for almost over 40 years of Autonomy. Notwithstanding the challenges they face, the Azores are now a modern region provided with good infrastructures that was able to create the conditions to boost its attractiveness," said Vasco Cordeiro.

The President of the Government stressed that the presentation session of business opportunities in the Region, which was also attended by the General Consul of Portugal in San Francisco, Nuno Mathias, addressed the strategic areas for this investment, such as tourism and the sea, as well as the comparative advantages of the Azores with regard to the other areas in the country in terms of taxation of incentive schemes.

Before this session, Vasco Cordeiro gave an interview to the Portuguese Radio Network - KSQQ, during which he addressed this theme, highlighting the role played by the Houses of the Azores in disseminating the current reality of the Azores in the host communities.

"The Houses of the Azores are essential partners, not only in terms of the safeguarding, defence and promotion of the Azorean identity, but also in the dissemination of the Azores of today," stressed the President of the Government. Vasco Cordeiro will preside over the opening session of the General Assembly of the World Council of Houses of the Azores to take place in Hilmar, California, on Friday.

Vasco Cordeiro stressed the "remarkable progress the Azores reached in the last decade." In this regard, he hopes that the Azoreans living in the diaspora "be proud of the Azores of today."