Azores and Catalonia agree to cooperate on blue economy

At an international forum in Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira island, representatives of the Azores and Catalonia announced plans to cooperate on blue economy projects and ocean protection. Officials from both regions, including Azorean deputy government leader Artur Lima and Catalan government delegate in Portugal Rui Reis, said they want to link researchers, businesses and port infrastructure, sharing data and developing joint European projects. The three-day forum, called "Smart Oceans: Sustainability, Technology and Economic Growth", brings together universities, port authorities and companies from both regions, alongside the UN Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.