New strategic challenges – The Summer Meeting 2022 brought together the Board of Directors, the new Advisory Board and Members of the Diaspora who came from all over the world. The objectives were followed up and the advancement of the new strategy was shared in an open debate with a view to strengthening the role of the Diaspora in the world.

On July 27th, the Diaspora Council met at Palácio Cidadela to discuss the various activities and projects carried out in the first half of 2022, also looking ahead to future projects.

The Summer Meeting focused on the strategy of the Diaspora Council carried out by the new Board, headed by President António Calçada de Sá, in office since 2021. The various Counselors present had the opportunity to comment on the many activities carried out throughout the first half of the year, namely:

• Strategic Collaboration Agreement with Cascais City Council
• Board Audience with His Excellency the President of the Republic
• General Assembly (AG) of the Diaspora Council
• Diaspora meetings with His Excellency the President of the Republic in Madrid and London

The Summer Meeting 2022 was marked by the constitution of the Advisory Board – a support body for the Diaspora, composed of businessmen and high-profile national and international personalities, led by Pedro Reis, former President of Aicep, and with the following objectives:

• Support the Diaspora Council inside and outside of Portugal
• Suggest lines of action and concrete projects with value creation that can be carried out in the interests of Portugal, its companies and institutions
• Support the expansion of the Portuguese Diaspora Network in the world

After the meeting, the Councillors, members of the Consultative Council and key sponsors of the Diaspora Council were presented to His Excellency, the President of the Republic in a private audience, at the Palace of Belém. The day ended with a dinner at the Governor’s Palace, which had as guest of honor His Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Honorary Vice-President of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, João Gomes Cravinho.