The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations conveyed in Lagoa the Regional Government's interest in establishing "new alliances" of cooperation with European overseas territories.
 
"We are talking about territories that may not only a number of interesting markets for us, but can also open geopolitical alliances in the world," stressed Rui Bettencourt at the opening of the International Conference of OCTA Innovation - Association of Overseas Countries and Territories of the Union European. The two-day event is taking place at Nonagon - S. Miguel Science and Technology Park.
 
In his speech, the Secretary External Relations stressed that this is "an interesting organisation for the Azores as a new ally within the EU," as it "enhances the projection of Europe in the world."
 
"We are now starting a process of rapprochement to those territories and learn how we can collaborate," Rui Bettencourt said, stressing that, at this stage," we need to "exchange ideas" so that we may analyse together what we can do with these territories.
 
In this regard, the Regional Secretary stressed that, during the works of the two-day conference, "regional companies will show what is to innovate and confront this innovation with what their counterparts do in these territories."
 
The conference will discuss topics such as sustainability, renewable energy, digital economy, blue and green economy, tourism, agronomy, agro-ecology, education and culture.
 
The meeting includes the participation of speakers from the Azores, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, the Falkland Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Saint Barthelémy, Saint Helena, Aruba and Curacao, among others.
 
"These territories are located in various parts of the world, from the Caribbean to the Pacific, but all something in common with us: the fact that they are islands as well as small and fragile territories that are very distant from the European Union; therefore, they share some common concerns with us," said Rui Bettencourt.
 
For the Regional Secretary "the interest is twofold," emphasising that, on the one hand, we want to say "we exist and we have good practices," seeing that other practices exist and may be shared, and, on the other hand, "we might have a market for some of our products."
 
The opening session of the conference also included the presentation of the promotional spot of Azores. It consists of a video presentation of the archipelago abroad that, besides the scenery, focuses on the Azorean feeling and Azorean culture.
 
Even today, in the evening, the Colégio Church in Ponta Delgada will be the venue of the delivery ceremony of BIC Awards (Business Innovation Creativity) to distinguish individuals and entities that have excelled in the fields of business, innovation and creativity in overseas countries and territories.