The Azores took center stage during the celebrations of Portugal Day, Camões Day, and Portuguese Communities Day at the Portuguese Embassy in Berlin, where Azorean Vice President Artur Lima highlighted the archipelago’s strategic importance to Portugal’s global position and future development.
Addressing an audience of more than 200 people—including members of the Portuguese community in Germany, diplomats, business leaders, and institutional representatives—Lima argued that the Azores are far more than an island region on the edge of Europe. Rather, he presented the archipelago as one of Portugal’s greatest geopolitical assets, a territory that expands the nation’s maritime reach and strengthens its role in the Atlantic world.
“Celebrating Portugal without looking toward the Atlantic would be forgetting our very origins,” he said. “That is why I come to speak to you about a Portugal that extends Europe into the middle of the ocean: I come to speak to you about the Azores.”
Rejecting traditional notions of insularity and geographic isolation, Lima emphasized that the islands have historically occupied a central place in Portugal’s relationship with the wider world.
“The Azores have never been Portugal’s periphery,” he declared. “They have been, and continue to be, its Atlantic center.”
While acknowledging the historic role the archipelago played during the Age of Discovery and in the development of transatlantic routes, the Vice President focused much of his remarks on the contemporary and future significance of the islands.
He described the Azores as one of Europe’s leading centers for deep-ocean scientific research and highlighted the region’s growing role in the European space sector. He also pointed to advances in marine biotechnology, underwater robotics, and sustainable ocean exploration, areas in which the archipelago is increasingly attracting international attention.
“The Azores are today a center for deep-sea scientific research, and we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of Europe’s space industry,” he said. “We are a living laboratory for marine biotechnology, underwater robotics, and the sustainable use of ocean resources, while also serving as a stronghold for marine biodiversity and environmental sustainability.”
The speech also carried a strong economic message.
Addressing entrepreneurs and investors attending the event, Lima extended an invitation to explore opportunities in the Azores, portraying the region as a place where innovation, sustainability, and strategic geography converge.
“The future of Portugal is projected from here,” he said. “With our eyes on the horizon and with the conviction that the sea does not separate us—it unites us.”
“To the entrepreneurs and investors present here, I can assure you that we are ready to welcome your vision, your investment, and your ambition.”
The Azorean delegation’s participation came at the invitation of Portugal’s Ambassador to Germany, Madalena Fischer. Also attending the celebrations was Secretary of State for European Affairs Inês Domingos.
Alongside the institutional program, the event featured a showcase of Azorean products, craftsmanship, and tourism offerings, supported by Invest in Azores, Marca Açores, the Azores Tourism Training School, and VisitAzores.
The exhibition provided guests with an opportunity to experience elements of Azorean culture, gastronomy, and entrepreneurship, reinforcing the message that the islands are increasingly positioning themselves as both a cultural destination and a strategic hub for innovation, investment, and international cooperation.
Held in one of Europe’s most important political and economic capitals, the celebration offered the Azores a prominent platform from which to project their contemporary identity: a region deeply rooted in its Atlantic heritage while looking confidently toward the opportunities of the future.
Translated and adapted from a Pree Release, Photos from teh Government of tge Azores.
