"Portugal will be a credible and committed partner" in the blue economy development

The Prime-Minister, António Costa, underlined the importance of developing the blue economy, focused on the oceans, adding Portugal is already working with several partners in this goal, through the international investigation centre of Azores (AIR Center).

These statements were made in the conference "Oceans: opportunities of wellness", promoted by Norway, that took place among the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations, in New York.

Remembering the historic maritime tradition of Portugal and the 500 years of the Earth’s circumnavigation by Fernão de Magalhães, the Prime-Minister stressed out the importance of the AIR Center, "an international scientific organization located in the Azores islands".

The AIR Center "has the goal of developing a new interdisciplinary research platform, exploring synergies between space, climate, energy, ocean’s sciences and knowledge", António Costa said, also referring that Portugal has recently organized an international conference about the oceans (Oceans Meeting 2017), during the 7th and the 8th of September, in Lisbon.

"In this area, as in many others, only with a collective actuation will be possible to make a difference to our populations, to the planet and to our prosperity. Portugal will be a credible and committed partner in this effort", he concluded.