"Regarding the news on the visit of a group of U.S. businesspeople to the Azores, the Regional Government clarifies the following:

1. This is a U.S. Government's initiative that was promoted by the U.S. Embassy in Portugal in conjunction with the European Command for some time, which was publicly announced by the U.S. Ambassador in December last year. As the President of the Regional Government mentioned at meetings held in the national territory and abroad, this is the context in which the initiative will take place.

2.  The visit programme and the activities to be held in the Region are being discussed between U.S. authorities and the Azorean Government; the latter has contributed to the participation of entities representing Terceira businesspeople and the Municipality of Praia da Vitória in this initiative.
 
3. The Government of the Azores, in conjunction with the aforementioned entities, is working on this visit in order to turn it into a privileged moment for promoting investment and economic growth opportunities on Terceira that may boost the existing services at Lajes Air Base as well as the island's priority economic sectors."