The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations expressed in Viana do Castelo his "great satisfaction" with the holding of the 1st Regional Meeting of Investors of the Diaspora in the Azores in 2018.
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke on the sidelines of the 2nd Meeting of Investors of the Diaspora regarding the announcement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, at the opening session of the event. The government official emphasised the preparatory work that has been developed, highlighting the "major conciliation efforts" undertaken with the Secretary of State for the Communities and some decision-makers of the Diaspora.
 
"It is not by chance that the Azores will be the chosen venue of this meeting," the government official said, stressing that "the Azores have a very important Diaspora, namely its investors."
 
The Azorean Diaspora and the entire Azorean population in the world are "an asset," said Rui Bettencourt. The government official stressed that "he regards this meeting of investors under this approach" and pointed out that the Region has "four times more population outside the Azores than that living in the archipelago."
 
Furthermore, the Regional Assistant Secretary pointed out another reason why this event will be held in the Azores, which concerns "the very interesting reality in terms of economic development." He mentioned the "strong and potent" agricultural sector, fisheries, wine, floriculture, tea, meat production, mineral waters and natural products, as well as tourism and the economy of the sea. The latter two "are very important investment sectors with room for economic growth."
 
"All of these factors, combined with our Diaspora, the emerging sectors and with the very interesting incentive systems implemented by the Regional Government, allows us to have great hope in this meeting," said the Regional Assistant Secretary.