The Regional Secretary for the Economy, Vasco Cordeiro, will with the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development of the State of Massachusetts, Gregory Bialecky.

According to the Regional Secretary for the Economy, this is “a meeting where several themes of common interest will be analysed, being the result of a closer political relation between the Azores and the State of Massachusetts which gained a new momentum “from 2008 when the President of the Government, Carlos César, and the Governor of the State of Massachusetts, Devel Patrick, signed a twinning protocol between the two regions.”

Vasco Cordeiro reminded that “the intensification of economic relations is one of the goals of the twinning agreement, but these are not the only goals: we intend to work permanently towards the creation of opportunities so that this type of agreement may also have a social impact as the importance of the Azorean community residing in this North American state is evident.”

In addition, the Regional Secretary also recalled that the Azores have been developing tourism campaigns to promote the archipelago in the State of Massachusetts.

“This geographical area is considered one of our target markets due to the easy accessibility to the Region through direct flight connections to Boston,” the Regional Secretary advocated, recalling that since the beginning of the year “several initiatives have already been developed to promote the destination Azores in the State of Massachusetts in order to increase tourist flows in the Region.”

The Regional Secretary for the Economy, who is visiting the USA at the invitation of the organising commission of the Holy Spirit Festivities, will have breakfast with the members of the Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States on Friday.

On the same day, Vasco Cordeiro will meet with the Mayor of Fall River City Hall, William Flanagan.