The Regional Director for Communities stressed today the crucial role played by Azorean emigration since the 17th century in the development of many geographic areas, particularly in Brazil, United States, Canada and Bermuda, thus effectively contributing to the expansion of the Lusophone world.

Paulo Teves delivered a paper on "Azorean emigration and the transnationalism of cultural identity" under the International Conference that was held under the title "Lusophone Perspectives. Transnationalism, Multiculturalism and Cosmopolitanism" in Lisbon. The government official highlighted the long migratory journey of the Azorean people, stressing that the "thousands of Azoreans who left the archipelago were instrumental in the transnationalism of the Azorean identity."

"Hundreds of organisations and community leaders of the Azorean diaspora are the major disseminators of "Azoreanity," through the preservation, promotion and dissemination of the social and cultural reality of the archipelago," said the Regional Director.

For Paulo Teves, Azorean communities in the diaspora have provided responses to current challenges by repositioning its action in order to fully promote the integration of Azorean emigrants and their descendants in host societies as well as to perpetuate the Azorean cultural legacy and disseminate the Autonomous Region of the Azores in its multiple aspects.

"The existence of a permanent and constant emotional attachment to the Azores can provide a stimulus for the new generations that are growing curious and interested in knowing better their origins. This is also important to the various sectors of activity that can benefit from this new dynamics and increased possibilities of exchanges, not only at a cultural and social level, but also at an economic level," defended Paulo Teves.

In his paper, the Regional Director for Communities also emphasised that the active participation of Azorean emigrants in host societies "brings new perspective for this relation and strengthens the defence of community interests" in addition to "contributing to the assertion and internationalisation of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in the world."

The International Conference "Lusophone Perspectives. Transnationalism, Multiculturalism and Cosmopolitanism" features over 40 speakers from various countries. The initiative aims to address the multiple aspects of Lusophone studies, bearing in mind the existence of about 250 million Portuguese speakers scattered throughout the world in large communities as a result of several Portuguese migratory routes.

The conference is taking place today and Wednesday at Universidade Nova de Lisboa (New University of Lisbon). This event is organised by the Lusophone Studies Association, an interdisciplinary academic association that comprises several Canadian and Portuguese universities, including the University of the Azores.