The Regional Secretary of the Presidency revealed on Sunday that the Azorean Government "will undertake a special effort in 2012, giving special attention to the allocation of resources for immigration policies in order to reduce the difficulties resulting from the adverse economic and financial context."

André Bradford spoke at the presentation of the magazine "Viver Aqui" (Living Here), a publication launched by the Azores Immigrant Association on the International Migrants Day, about which he considered to be “an important tool for the dissemination of information by AIPA." The government official stressed that "the first issue appears at the right time because it presents real examples and testimonials from foreign citizens who have settled in the Azores and who have enriched our society with the sharing and openness to other cultural experiences."

In addition to the "important contribution which is embodied in the openness and broad world view," André Bradford highlighted the examples of immigrants who, for their business and entrepreneurial skills, have clearly contributed to the regional economy, demonstrating to all Azoreans that immigration is an asset for the regional society. "

According to him, the Government of the Azores "is proud of those who have chosen our land and adopted it as their home by heart," stressing that, “unlike others in Portugal and Europe, we have been fully aware of the positive contribution of immigrants for our development."

Regarding the importance of the immigrants' contribution to the economy, André Bradford mentioned "the data released nationwide clearly demonstrate the contribution of immigrants to the national social security system, reaching 316 million Euros."
 
The rejuvenation of the population and the generation of wealth by boosting the economy were the aspects highlighted by André Bradford concerning the presence of immigrants in our society. "We will all benefit from a more inclusive and more integrated society that fully uses the capacity and availability of each one."

For the government official "entrepreneurship is something that is innate to immigrants who, putting their fate into their hands, search for better living conditions throughout the world, taking various risks."

According to André Bradford, the immigrants who have "a well defined entrepreneur profile as well as the capacity to risk and venture will always count on the Government's support through public policies implemented by the Regional Directorate for Communities, whose concern is their full integration."

 Regarding the policies developed by the Azorean Government, the Regional Secretary of the Presidency stressed "the attendance services providing support to immigrants across the archipelago; the Portuguese language courses for foreigners; the support to a significant number of activities developed by several associations in the preservation of the immigrants' cultural identity; and the maintenance of a permanent interdepartmental and inter-institutional dialogue, through the Regional Advisory Council for Immigration Affairs, in order to identify and meet the specific needs of this group."  

The government official also highlighted "the success and international recognition of these immigration policies as an example to others" and revealed that in 2012 "all of these actions will be maintained and their scope will be also reinforced with the purpose of supporting the individual effort of each immigrant in its integration process and simultaneously promote tolerance and respect for cultural diversity in the Azores.”

In this context, the minister announced that the "Immigrant Guide will be redesigned to comprise new areas of interest for immigrants, the granting of scholarships to immigrant students at the University of the Azores will be expanded and a television programme "Contos de Lá" (Tales from Abroad) will be also launched. This programme, targeted at younger audiences, features traditional tales from the countries of origin of the immigrants living in the Azores with the purpose of promoting intercultural knowledge in the Region."

André Bradford concluded his speech by stressing that "any immigration process requires courage and willpower to overcome difficulties, but the examples highlighted by the AIPA magazine should be a source of pride for the entire immigrant community living in the Azores as well as a source of inspiration for us all."