The President of the Government met Tuesday with the Vice-Governor of the State of California, to whom he presented new opportunities to strengthen the existing twinning between the Azores and this State in areas such as the sea, space and new technologies.
"I had the opportunity to disseminate new opportunities to strengthen the twinning project between the Azores and California. We believe there are areas such as the sea, space and new technologies, which can be good points for the development of this partnership," said Vasco Cordeiro after a meeting with Eleni Kounalakis.
On the second day of his official visit to California, the President of the Government stated that this meeting was an opportunity to present what the Region has done in terms of the sustainability of the sea, the investment in the development of space-related areas in partnership with the European Space and the promotion of new technologies, through Terceira Tech Island project.
"This meeting also highlighted the importance of the Azorean Community in California, having stood out in several areas, namely in the case of dairy products and fishing," stated Vasco Cordeiro.
During this official visit, President of the Government will open the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) of California State University - Fresno at the invitation of the President of the University of California - Fresno, Joseph I. Castro.
In addition to the opening of this institute aimed at the promotion of Portuguese Culture and Language, with a special focus on the Azorean Diaspora, the programme includes other institutional contacts and meetings with the Azorean community in various areas of California.
According to the 2017 American Community Survey, the population of Portuguese origin in the State of California stands at about 345 thousand people, with an estimated 70 percent coming from the Azores.
From the mid-19th century, the Azorean Community has been living in California for several generations. It has maintained countless traditions with the creation of various organisations, namely Holy Spirit Brotherhoods, Philharmonic Bands, Folk Dance Groups, among others, while occupying prominent positions in several sectors of this American State.