The Regional Secretary for Economy, Vasco Cordeiro, will meet with the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, in Toronto this Friday.

According to the Regional Secretary of the Economy, this is "a meeting where various subjects of interest to the Region will be under analysis, being the result several contacts the Government of the Azores has been establishing with Canadian political representatives in order to strengthen cooperation ties between the Azores and the entities in this area."

"As it is of public knowledge, there is a large Luso-descendent community in Canada, particularly of Azorean descent, and for that reason the maintenance of these contacts always brings benefits to our communities," added the Regional Secretary.

In addition, "this type of contacts allows us to make the Azores know, not only in a perspective of interest to the Azorean community residing in Canada, but also as an opportunity to develop economic contacts, disseminate the current potential of the Azores search for areas of common interest with potential to attract external investment."

That is, he said, "holding meetings at the highest level has allowed the Azores to present themselves not just as the region of origin of thousands of emigrants, but as a modern region with a vast potential."
 
Vasco Cordeiro reminded that the Azores have been significantly investing in Canada, whether in attracting investment, with some meetings already promoted by the Promotion of Investment in the Azores (APIA), or in the tourist promotion of the archipelago. In this context, a promotional campaign is about to start with the aim of further increasing tourist flows between Canada and the Azores."

"It is a goal that has been accomplishment and in which the Regional Government has put its trust, considering that this is a market with a vast growth potential," stated Vasco Cordeiro.

During his stay in Canada, the Regional Secretary for the Economy will also participate, on behalf of the President of the Government, in the 14th Azorean Cultural Week. This year's event will be held the theme "this year entitled "Azoreans: The Union is strength" in Toronto. In addition, Vasco Cordeiro will also participate in the dinner celebrating the 26th anniversary of the House of the Azores of Ontario.

"For any government official it is always a great honour to share these important in the life of our communities," the Regional Secretary for Economy stated, recalling "that our emigrants have raised the Azores to prominence in the countries that have welcomed them. They are of utmost importance for the external projection of our Region in the world, especially in North America, being a reference for these host communities."