AmCham Portugal leads business mission to the Azores to strengthen transatlantic economic relations
October 19-20, 2026 | Ponta Delgada, Azores
As part of AmCham Portugal’s 75th anniversary celebrations, the American Chamber of Commerce in Portugal organized, in collaboration with the Azores Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIA), a business mission to the Azores on October 19 and 20. The initiative was attended by representatives of Google, Aon, Tabaqueira and Allianz Trade, bringing companies from different sectors closer to the Region’s business, institutional and scientific community and making it possible to explore new opportunities for cooperation and investment.
Conference “Competing in a Changing World”
The conference “Competing in a Changing World”, held at the Grande Hotel Açores Atlântico, brought together representatives of the Regional Government, the business sector and academia to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Azores in a context of economic and technological transformation. The session covered topics such as the transatlantic relationship and European competitiveness, financing technological innovation, the impact of artificial intelligence on companies, the potential of the Azores as a digital hub in the Atlantic and opportunities for internationalization into the American market.
At the opening, António Martins da Costa, President of AmCham Portugal, and Rita Rico, US Consul in the Azores, underlined the importance of deepening economic relations between both sides of the Atlantic. Member of the European Parliament Paulo do Nascimento Cabral highlighted the transatlantic relationship as a strategic asset for future competitiveness and resilience, also stressing the position of the Azores as a “natural bridge between Europe and the American continent”.
The discussion continued with Gualter Couto, Vice President of the CCIA and President of the Ponta Delgada Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and with a panel on financing technological innovation, with Bruno Belo, Regional Director for Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness, and on the relationship between artificial intelligence and talent, with Gonçalo Naves, of Aon Portugal.
Sofia Marta, Country Manager of Google Cloud, addressed the potential of the Azores as a digital hub in the Atlantic, notably through investment in infrastructure and artificial intelligence, while Patrícia Casimiro, of Allianz Trade Portugal, brought to the discussion the role of credit insurance in managing business risk and in internationalization. Closing this part of the debate, Graça Didier, Secretary-General of AmCham Portugal, presented the opportunities and particularities of the American market for Portuguese companies.
In his closing remarks, Artur Lima, Vice President of the Regional Government of the Azores, stressed the need to reconcile competitiveness, economic development and territorial cohesion, arguing that “cohesion is an irreplaceable pillar of competitiveness”. Taken together, the speeches converged on the need to strengthen the ability of the Azores to attract investment, develop talent and innovation, and make the most of its strategic position in the Atlantic.
Conference sponsored by Allianz Trade.
Official Dinner
The first day’s program ended with AmCham Portugal’s official dinner, which brought together representatives of the business, institutional and diplomatic communities for an evening of dialogue and networking. Chaired by Artur Lima, on behalf of the President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, the dinner was also attended by Rita Rico and António Martins da Costa, reinforcing the institutional dimension of the mission and the importance of continuing to bring the Portuguese, Azorean and American business ecosystems closer together.
Meeting with the President of the Regional Government of the Azores
The delegation met with José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores, and with Artur Lima, Vice President of the Regional Government, in a meeting devoted to strengthening relations between the Azores, Portugal and the United States, in a year that marks AmCham Portugal’s 75th anniversary, the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 50th anniversary of the Autonomy of the Azores. Opportunities in the digital economy, energy, security and defense and access to space were also discussed, as part of the ambition to “turn the Azores into a new center of gravity, in geopolitics and geoeconomics”.
NONAGON
At NONAGON, the delegation met with Ricardo Machado, Project Manager, who presented the regional innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, highlighting the link between academia and business, support for startups and the development of technological solutions. The center hosts 68 companies, around half of them in software development and artificial intelligence, and houses the QuanticLab supercomputer, whose potential was described as “underused”, with room for wider use by companies.
Finançor Group
At the meeting with the Finançor Group, the delegation met with Directors Hugo Gonçalves and Guilherme Silva to learn about the development and strategy of one of the leading business groups in the Azores, with activities in agri-food, distribution, retail and hospitality. The conversation also covered sustainability, renewable energy, research and development and digitalization, as well as the challenges related to labor availability, energy costs and expanding exports to the American market.
University of the Azores
At the University of the Azores, the delegation met with Professor Susana Mira Leal, Rector, and Vice-Rectors Francisco Martins and Artur Gil, to learn about the institution’s work in marine sciences, oceanography, biotechnology and agricultural sciences, as well as the potential to link research, business and the blue economy. Strengthening scientific and academic cooperation with the United States was also identified as an opportunity, with the difficulties in deepening these relations being highlighted: “We feel ignored by the US when it comes to science and innovation”.
Bensaude Group
At the meeting with the Bensaude Group, the delegation met with Jorge Aguiar, Executive Director of Bensaude Hotels Collection, and Nuno Serejo, Executive Advisor, to learn about the strategy of a group present in tourism, distribution, logistics and health, as well as its interest in technology and startups, particularly projects originating in universities. The weight of the American market in Azores tourism, the importance of direct air links and the challenges of attracting and retaining human resources were also discussed.
The business mission thus strengthened the dialogue between the American and Portuguese business community and the various economic, scientific and institutional players in the Azores, making it possible to identify concrete areas of cooperation and opportunities to deepen transatlantic economic relations.
Program
Day 19 – Conference + Dinner
15h15 | Check-in
15h30 | Welcome – António Martins da Costa, President of AmCham Portugal
15h40 | Opening remarks – Rita Rico, Consul of the United States of America in the Azores
15h55 | Keynote speaker – Member of the European Parliament Paulo do Nascimento Cabral
16h10 | Gualter Couto, Vice President of the CCIA and President of the Ponta Delgada Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Challenges, opportunities and threats for companies.
16h25 | Panel I
-Bruno Belo, Regional Director for Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness, Regional Secretariat for Finance, Planning and Public Administration – Financing companies’ technological innovation.
-Gonçalo Naves, Associate, Human Capital, Aon Portugal – The Intelligence of Partnership: combining human and artificial capabilities to build better organizations
17h00 | Coffee break
17h20 | Sofia Marta, Country Manager of Google Cloud – The Azores at the Center of the Digital Atlantic: Infrastructure, AI and Global Competitiveness
17h35 | Panel II
-Patricia Casimiro, Head of Distribution, Multinationals & Sales Allianz Trade Portugal – The importance of Credit Insurance for economic growth
-Graça Didier, Secretary-General of AmCham Portugal – The American Market: Opportunities, Constraints and Particularities
18h10 | Closing remarks – Artur Lima, Vice President of the Regional Government of the Azores
18h20 | Close
20h00 | Official Mission Dinner
Conference sponsor: 
Day 20
10h00 – 10h45 – Audience with the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, Dr. José Manuel Bolieiro
11h15 – 12h15 – Visit to Nonagon
12h30 – 13h15 – Visit to the Finançor Group
15h00 – 15h45 – Visit to the University of the Azores
16h00 – 16h45 – Visit to the Bensaude Group
