The strengthening of bilateral relations between Angola and the Azores is “a reinforcement of the assertion of our autonomy in the national context since the Region is also providing a valuable contribution to the assertion of our country,” stated the Regional Secretary for the Economy in Ponta Delgada on Monday.
Vasco Cordeiro spoke during the opening session of a session of Opportunities for Bilateral Cooperation, which was held during the visit of the Ambassador of Angola in Portugal, José Marcos Barrica, to the Azores and considered that “the promotion of such initiatives that encourage dialogue and strengthening of relations with other States or regions demonstrates how the Autonomous Region of the Azores may contribute to relations between states.”
The Regional Secretary for the Economy reminded that the Ambassador’s trip to the Azores is the result of an invitation made by the President of the Regional Government following the interested demonstrated by the Embassy of Angola in becoming better acquainted with the Azorean reality which, for Vasco Cordeiro, “also demonstrates that the Azores have been asserting their importance abroad.”  
The Regional Secretary for the Economy also stressed “the strong commercial dimension” of José Marcos Barrica’s visit to the Azores.
According Vasco Cordeiro, there are already some areas in which the Azores are present in the Angolan market, “such as the case of the agro-industries and dairy exports” and the Region is presently considering to extend this economic relation to areas like fisheries or tourism or to emergent areas as renewable energies.”
During the second day of visit, the Ambassador of Angola visited the companies Lotaçor, SOGEO, Unileite and Cofaco as well as the University of the Azores.