The Regional Under Secretary for the Presidency for External Relation stressed today "the importance of the contribution provided by Azorean communities to the Azores of today," even those that are further away in time and space such as the communities in Southern Brazil.

Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the premises where a training course "Bobbin Lace: from Santa Catarina to the Azores" is taking place, Rodrigo Oliveira defended that the Regional Government's initiative has contributed "to convey a spirit of entrepreneurship, taking into account the role of bobbin lace technique in the promotion of tourism and the creation of family businesses or handicrafts cooperatives."

This course contributes to the "creation and development of entrepreneurial initiatives in this area with the aim of fighting unemployment and increasing the supply of traditional products," added the Regional Under Secretary. The initiative is promoted by the Regional Directorate for Communities in partnership with the Regional Directorate for Employment and Vocational Training, and the Regional Centre for Handicrafts.

For Rodrigo Oliveira, the training course on bobbin lace, taught by teachers from the House of the Azores of Santa Catarina Island, also takes into consideration the need to revitalise the rich Azorean cultural legacy on Southern Brazil. This initiative will contribute to its dissemination insofar as it will "encourage and reinforce the relations between the Azores and Brazil."

According to the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, this initiative provides them with "skills that combine tradition with modernity and our 'Azoreanity' with modern times." Moreover, it also "promotes the knowledge on the culture and history" of the Azores.

Bobbin lace technique was first developed on the island of Santa Catarina through the influence of the first Azorean emigrants in the mid-18th century.

 After two and a half centuries, the descendants of these emigrants still preserve their origins and cultural traits. Florianopolis is the municipality with the largest concentration of lace makers in Southern Brazil and where bobbin lace is considered to be the most representative cultural heritage from the Azores.

30 unemployed women, divided into two groups, are participating in the training course "Bobbing Lace: from Santa Catarina to the Azores." The sessions are being held at the premises of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Ribeira Grande and the Ponta Delgada Public Library and Regional Archive, which are also partners in the Government's initiative.

Rodrigo Oliveira also assured that "the Government of the Azores remains committed to promoting and supporting new development opportunities for the Region."