The President of the Government stated in Winnipeg, Canada, that the pride felt by the communities in the Diaspora for the Azores is the result of the hard work that has been developed over nearly four decades of Autonomy, being also a "way to unite the Azorean people."

"The Azores of today are not the Azores that most of you or your parents have left. Much has been made and it is important that our communities feel pride for the Azores of today," Vasco Cordeiro said, considering that this" is a way to unite the Azoreans throughout the world. "

In the speech delivered Tuesday during a meeting with the Azorean community residing in Winnipeg, which was attended by two hundred people despite the low temperatures, Vasco Cordeiro stressed "the role played by the Azorean communities spread around the world may play for the benefit of the Azores" and reiterated the importance of the full integration into the host societies.

"That is the best way to honour and acknowledge the importance of the Azores," the President of the Government said, adding that the contribution of the Diaspora communities also involves younger generations, who do not do have the feeling of longing that tied older generations to the Azores. In this context, the involvement of younger generations poses a "more demading" challenge.

"This relation should be maintained and strengthened with different strategies from those used for the earlier generations," defended Vasco Cordeiro. According to him, it is very important that the new generation may become acquainted with the current reality of the Azores, a region that is a gateway to the European Union with a huge potential to be explored in the field of marine sciences. In fact, the Azores have many opportunities for those wishing to "become partners" in the development of the Region.

"Today, the Azores offer many opportunities to their children, even to those who left for other countries, who want to become partners in the task of developing our land," said the government official.

Vasco Cordeiro highlighted the work that has been developed by the Azorean community of Winnipeg and its institutions, such as the House of the Azores, underlining that this dedication and commitment "raise the Azores to prominence and, simultaneously, recognise their prestige and dignity."

On the third day of his visit to the Azorean communities in Canada, the President of the Government visits the Saint Elizabeth Home and participates in a meeting with Azorean and Luso-Canadian entrepreneurs from Winnipeg; the latter is promoted by the Society for the Business Development of the Azores (SDEA) with the aim of presenting the investment opportunities in the archipelago. Later on, Vasco Cordeiro will travel to Toronto.