Artur Lima, vice president of the Regional Government of the Azores, met on Monday in Sacramento, California, with Susanne Stirling, vice president of the California Chamber of Commerce responsible for international affairs.

On the occasion, he signaled that the Government of the Azores is committed to fostering partnership relations with the State of California and attracting foreign investment to the region.

“California is one of the world’s leading innovation hubs and has a strong presence of technology companies. We want to promote the Azores as an investment destination and this state is an opportunity to attract this type of company,” he said.

He continued, ” The presence of a robust community of Azorean origin and the proximity to entities such as the California Chamber of Commerce can help facilitate the establishment of partnerships to generate investment in the Azores.”

During the meeting, which was attended by Zeto Carvalho, Diaspora Advisor for the State of California, Cliff Costa from California Advocates, Director of CPAC, and Diniz Borges, President of CPAC, Artiur Lima identified areas of interest for both parties, namely renewable energies, scientific research, technology, agriculture, and tourism.

The vice president also stressed that “the strategic location of the Azores in the middle of the North Atlantic represents a unique potential for the region to occupy a leading position for trade between the United States of America and Europe.”

Artur Lima also demonstrated the Azores’ interest in deepening the working relationship with the California Chamber of Commerce, one of the most important entities in that state’s economic sector.

According to Lima, with more than 13,000 businesses, this institution could be a privileged partner for future economic partnerships with the Azores. Susanne Stirling showed interest in continuing this dialogue and making the California Chamber of Commerce membership aware of the potential for many of its members in the Azores.

During his stay in California, Artur Lima maintained political and institutional contacts, starting with the Leader of the Democratic Party’s Parliamentary Caucus in the State Assembly, Cecília Aguiar-Curry, with California State Senator Henry Stern, and with Robert Rivas, Speaker of the California State Assembly, as well as leaders of the Portuguese-American community, in a luncheon hosted by CPAC. The visit was also accompanied by Miguel Machado from the office of the President of the Government of the Azores.

(The California Portuguese-America Colation has been a strong partner of the Portuguese Beyond Borders Insitute at Fresno State)