The Premier of Bermuda, Michael Dunkley, starts Monday a visit to the Azores at the invitation of the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, which will include the signing of Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the relation between both Governments.
 
The official visit of the head of the Government of Bermuda to the Region follows an invitation made by the President of the Government of the Azores. It was formalised in June 2015 during the visit of the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations to that archipelago to mark the 165 years of Azorean emigration.
 
Michael Dunkley arrives Monday on the island of São Miguel. On the following day, he will be welcomed by Vasco Cordeiro at Santana Palace. The audience will be followed by the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Azores and the Government of Bermudas, which embodies the friendship between the Peoples of both archipelagos of the Atlantic. It comprises the areas of culture, history and popular traditions.
 
In addition to this component, the Memorandum of Understanding, which is the result of a proposal presented by the Azores, provides a framework for the proximity and cooperation between both Governments, including, among other things, matters related to the Maritime Polices and Marine Conservation.
 
Also on Tuesday, the Premier of Bermudas will visit Ribeira Grande Geothermal Plant and Nonagon - São Miguel Science and Technology Park, located in the city of Lagoa, where he will have a meeting with SDEA - Society for Business Development of the Azores.
 
On May 4, Michael Dunkley, accompanied by the President of the Government, will travel to the island of Faial, where he will exchange greetings with the President of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, before visiting the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre and the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of the Azores.
 
He will then travel to the island of Pico, where we will visit the Wine Museum, the Vineyard Culture Landscape classified as World Heritage and the Whaling Museum.
 
The Bermuda Islands, whose capital is the city of Hamilton, is a British overseas territory located in the North Atlantic. It has been the destination of Azorean emigration from the first quarter of the 19th century.
 
It is estimated that about 20 to 25% of the Bermuda population is of Portuguese descent, of whom 90% are of Azorean origin.