A newly formed chapter of the Azorean diaspora in Brazil is moving quickly to build bridges across the Atlantic. The Casa dos Açores de Minas Gerais, led by Luso-Brazilian president Cláudio Motta, will host its first “Minas Gerais–Azores Business Mission” from April 20 to 24 in Ponta Delgada, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, institutions, and public officials in a coordinated effort to deepen economic cooperation between Brazil and Portugal.

Coordinated by Motta, with support from the Azorean Regional Director for Communities, José Andrade, the five-day initiative aims to create a sustained platform for dialogue, investment, and cultural exchange. More than a series of meetings, organizers describe the mission as a strategic step in linking Minas Gerais—one of Brazil’s most dynamic inland states—with the Azores, reinforcing a transatlantic relationship rooted in shared history and expanding toward economic opportunity.

The mission builds on momentum generated earlier this year at the First Business Forum of Andrelândia, a municipality in Minas Gerais located roughly 280 kilometers from Belo Horizonte. That February gathering marked the beginning of a broader internationalization strategy for the Casa dos Açores de Minas Gerais, positioning the institution as an active connector between Brazilian and Azorean economic ecosystems.

“This is more than a business meeting,” Motta told Brazilian media. “It is about creating space for exchange, generating opportunities, and strengthening long-term partnerships between both sides of the Atlantic.”

The initiative also includes institutional expansion. Among the key developments is the establishment of the first official representation of the Casa dos Açores de Minas Gerais in Andrelândia, alongside plans for an international delegation in Lisbon—moves designed to solidify the organization’s presence both in Brazil and mainland Portugal.

José Andrade emphasized the importance of aligning economic engagement with cultural diplomacy. He expressed interest in strengthening connections between Minas Gerais and Azorean communities while promoting the islands’ traditions, folklore, and ethnographic heritage in Brazil. At the same time, he highlighted the mission’s role in fostering new economic interactions that can benefit trade relations between the two regions.

The program begins April 20 with meetings between the delegation and members of the Azorean Regional Government. It also includes an institutional luncheon at the Agricultural Association of São Miguel in Rabo de Peixe and discussions with agricultural leader Jorge Rita, reinforcing ties to the region’s primary sector.

On April 21, participants will visit UNILEITE – União das Cooperativas Agrícolas de Laticínios de São Miguel in Arrifes, offering direct insight into the Azorean cooperative model. That same day, the Lisbon delegation of the Casa dos Açores de Minas Gerais will be formally launched at the Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, accompanied by a regional product showcase and an investment opportunities session featuring economist Camilo Moniz. The day concludes with the presentation of the book Somos Açores – Um arquipélago vivo pela ação das Casas dos Açores by Ígor Lopes.

Midweek meetings will focus on public policy and investment frameworks, including sessions with Regional Secretary for Finance Duarte Freitas and Regional Secretary for Tourism Berta Cabral. The delegation will also meet with the mayor of Ponta Delgada, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, and visit the Ecoparque of São Miguel, highlighting sustainability and innovation initiatives.

The final days of the mission shift toward territorial and cultural immersion, with visits across São Miguel Island, including Vila Franca do Campo, Furnas, and the historic Gorreana Tea Factory. The mission concludes on April 24 with a visit to Sete Cidades, joined by the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities.

As the Azores continue to position themselves within a global network of cultural and economic exchange, this mission signals a renewed commitment to diaspora-driven development—where memory, identity, and enterprise converge across oceans.

In Diário dos Açores-Paulo Viveiros-director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.