The Regional Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations highlighted today in Horta the role played by the Houses of the Azores in the promotion of the Region abroad, defending the importance of extending their activities to areas such as the promotion of tourism and the attraction of external investment.

"Recognising the maturity, relevance and indispensability of their role in the promotion of the Azorean identity and the preservation of traditions, the Government aims to stimulate the dynamics of the Houses of the Azores, namely in the promotion of the Azores of today and their multiple interests," said Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official spoke during the debate on the proposal for Regional Plan and Budget for 2014.

In this regard, the Regional Under Secretary revealed that the Government intends to create a "specific training programme for the Houses of the Azores in the promotion of tourism and attraction of external investment as well as to provide all institutions with promotional and information materials about the Region and its potential."

The area of Communities, whose overall budget is set at 537 thousand Euros, is particularly relevant in the Investment Plan proposed by the Government of the Azores for 2014. According to which, the area of External Relations will be allocated the sum of 757 thousand Euros, representing an increase of three percent compared to the present year.

The support to the Houses of the Azores and other associations in the Diaspora and the Region amounts to 245 thousand Euros. In this regard, Rodrigo Oliveira recalled the recent protocol signed with the House of the Azores of Bahia in Brazil, which has extended this global network to 14 institutions. 

Moreover, the Regional Under Secretary emphasised the importance the Government attaches to the "external promotion of the new Azorean cultural values," particularly through the support to the English translation of works by Azorean authors and the organisation of a film cycle to disseminate a whole new generation of Azorean filmmakers.

The organisation of international events in the Azores is another goal to be accomplished. In this context, the Portuguese Teachers' Meeting from USA and Canada will be held in the Region in 2014.

In the area of immigration, Rodrigo Oliveira stressed the reinforcement of "mechanisms for the integration of immigrants," revealing that the definition of the Regional Programme for the Integration of Migrants in the Azores will improve the coordination between the Government and the institutions working in this area.

The implementation of the "Recognition of Good Inclusive Practices," addressed at companies and institutions, and the extension of the geographical scope of Portuguese language courses for foreigners living in the Azores are other measures to be implemented under the investment plan.
 
"In a constant search for the best responses, we will focus our attention on the creation of the Returns Platform, which will contribute to a better institutional interconnection, the monitoring of the respective integration processes and the implementation of the "Family Skype" programme"; the latter consists of a contact network with various institutions based in the Communities and the Region with the aim of promoting the online contact between deported citizens and their respective families," announced Rodrigo Oliveira.

In addition, the Government will "draw special attention" to Bermuda in 2014, the year when we will celebrate the 165th anniversary of Azorean emigration to Bermuda. In this context, Rodrigo Oliveira stressed the importance of "recovering and preserving the memory and history" of Azorean emigration and the communities in the Diaspora.

With regard to cooperation and European affairs, an area with an estimated budget of 220 thousand Euros for 2014, the main goal for next year concerns "the enhancement of the Region's visibility, presence and external action," with special emphasis on the action taken with the Committee of the Regions. This body is considered to be the "centre of regional policy in Europe; its Commission on Natural Resources will hold a plenary meeting for the first time in the Azores.

The Government of the Azores will also draw special attention to the beginning of a new programming cycle and the new institutional phase the European Union is about to enter in 2014.

"Next year will certainly be important to the further development of external relations, particularly in the context of the Macaronesia and Atlantic spaces by virtue of the Azores' integration, for the first time, in the cross-border cooperation programmes of the European Union," stressed Rodrigo Oliveira.

The creation of a programme to foster the participation of youngsters in short-term traineeships was another goal mentioned by the Regional Under Secretary. The government official revealed that this initiative aims to encourage "Azorean youngsters to apply for traineeships in real work context that will be promoted by EU institutions and inter-regional organisations. Participants will receive financial support to offset the constraints of living in outermost regions, including the support to travel costs between the Region and European decision-making centres."

Regarding the area of Information and Communication, Rodrigo Oliveira emphasised the allocation of 515 thousand Euros for the Regional Support Programme for Private Media (PROMEDIA III), "thus maintaining the same level of support granted in 2013 and demonstrating the Government's attention to this sector."

Also in this area, the government official announced an "additional support to regional public radio and television service" in the amount of 75 thousand Euros for the qualification of technical equipments and resources at a time when "the National Government is unsure about the future structure of public radio and television service in the Azores."
 
In this speech, the Regional Under Secretary mentioned the allocation of 480 thousand Euros for the Electronic Communication Platform with Citizens, an investment that will redesign the current Portal of the Regional Government.
 
"Integrated in the Azores Digital and Technological Agenda, this is a structuring project in terms of electronic governance that will provide interactive services to citizens and companies in order to render the Portal of the Regional Government interoperational with other databases, placing it at the service of all Azoreans," said the Regional Under Secretary.