Portal da Açorianidade

The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, chaired a meeting of the Regional Advisory Council for Immigration Affairs (CCRAI) today. Vocational training opportunities for immigrants in the Autonomous Region of the Azores were the main item on the agenda. Sectors such as hospitality, construction or “even agriculture” need labour, as the government official acknowledged at the end of the meeting, noting that immigrants contribute to alleviating this labour shortage. “On the part of the Azores, there is a major concern about creating the conditions for emigrants to have working conditions here,” added the Regional Secretary. The agenda for this meeting also included the presentation of the most recent statistics on foreign citizens living in the Azores and the balance of the Portuguese Courses for Foreigners held in the Region in 2024. The CCRAI comprises the regional directors for the Communities, Education and Educational Administration, Social Solidarity, Employment and Vocational Training, Health and the Promotion of Equality and Social Inclusion. It also includes representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Azores, AIPA – Association of Immigrants in the Azores, CRESAÇOR –   Regional Cooperative of Solidarity Economy/Migrant Support Office, ASIBA-Association of Brazilian Immigrants in the Azores, the Regional Union of Private Social Solidarity Institutions of the Azores, the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the National Republican Guard, the Public Security Police, the Criminal Investigation Police and the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum. The advisory body intends to ensure the participation and collaboration of associations representing immigrants, social partners, social solidarity institutions, and other organisations that provide social and cultural support to immigrants in defining and coordinating policies for social integration and combating exclusion. Established in 2002, the CCRAI has as its main mission to collaborate in developing social integration policies for immigrants aimed at eliminating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities and participate in the definition of measures and actions contributing to the improvement of immigrants’ living conditions and the defence of their rights.