The Regional Director for Youth, Pilar Damião de Medeiros, stressed the importance of "promoting cultural capital" as a "decisive" tool for young entrepreneurs facing new challenges, which are increasingly based on the knowledge economy.

Speaking at a debate held at the São Miguel Tourism and Hotel School, Pilar Damião de Medeiros stressed that "a knowledge-based culture is a crucial condition for the development of the Azores."

According to the Regional Director, "knowledge is regarded as a flexible resource in constant expansion and evolution and it is noticeable the replacement of a model based on production for a model based on innovation."

The debate on the theme "Youth and Employment: which future lies ahead" took place under the "Youth Parliament" programme, an institutional initiative promoted by the Assembly of the Republic that is jointly organised in the Azores by the Regional Directorates for Education and Youth.