The Regional Director for Communities highlighted in Rio de Janeiro the important role played by Azorean emigrant communities residing in Brazil in the "promotion of the archipelago with their host societies."

"Our Diaspora communities have cooperated in the response to the challenges the Azores and the Azorean people are facing," said Paulo Teves. The government official spoke Sunday during a meeting with the Azorean community at the House of the Azores of Rio de Janeiro.

For the Regional Director, "the Azores of today and their visible path of development, thanks to the development of autonomy in recent decades, should be a source of pride for all those who chose the path of emigration." The government official added that the "wide and comprehensive" Azorean Diaspora "has played a decisive role in building a promising future for generations to come."

"We wish and it is necessary that youngsters of Azorean decent will be able to maintain, promote and disseminate our islands in their communities in order to prevent the legacy built in this country from being lost in time," said the government official.

In his speech, the Regional Director for Communities stressed that "the geographical distance and, in many cases, time has neither precluded nor hindered the permanent partnership with all those who, within their institutions or individually, care about the Azoreans living on both sides of the Atlantic, the Azores and the Diaspora communities."

On his visit to Brazil, the Regional Director met Saturday with the board of the House of the Azores of Rio de Janeiro at a meeting that analysed the main actions developed by this institution, including its dissemination through the use of new technologies and the presentation of the activity plan for this year.

Paulo Teves praised the work carried out by this institution, noting that a significant number of young people are members of the board of this House of the Azores, which represents "the dynamics, commitment and dedication of this presidency and the former boards to instil in youngsters of Azorean descent the importance of establishing ties to the Region."

During a meeting with the House of the Azores of São Paulo, held the day before, the Regional Director reiterated the Regional Government's willingness to create and strengthen synergies between several partners in the consolidation of "Azoreanity" in this Brazilian State.

 
"The House of the Azores São Paulo has developed its action in two main areas: firstly the preservation of Azorean cultural identity in this State and, secondly, the dissemination of the Azores in a more comprehensive intervention," Paulo Teves said, stressing "that this mission has strengthened the presence of the Azores and 'Azoreanity' in Brazil."