Artur Lima highlighted importance of Azores at 52nd Standing Bilateral Commission between Portugal and United States - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, participated today in the 52nd Standing Bilateral Commission (SBC) between Portugal and the United States of America (USA), which took place in Lisbon.

The topics discussed included economic, social and military cooperation between Portugal and the United States. Regarding the Lajes Air Base, the importance of this infrastructure for the defence and security of the Atlantic was highlighted, as well as the role that both military forces present at the Base play in search and rescue missions.

Concerning labour matters, the Vice-President of the Regional Government highlighted the Azorean Government's ongoing proactivity and also expressed his gratitude to the U.S. authorities and the Azores Air Command for their support during the recent U.S. shutdown. The investments made by U.S. entities in the Azores were noted, as well as the interest in areas under development in the Region, such as the space sector and the construction of the spaceport on the island of Santa Maria.

Artur Lima also highlighted the role of cutting-edge research conducted in the Region in terms of understanding the marine environment and its impact on global economies, advocating greater cooperation in this area between the parties.  

The government official concluded by welcoming the connection of two Google fibre optic cables to the Azores, emphasising their importance for the Region's position in the global digital economy.