As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) will host the FLAD Sister Cities Summit from June 25 to 27, 2025, in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel in the Azores.
The three-day event will bring together local and national government leaders, including Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, lawmakers, civic organizers, and youth representatives from Portugal and the United States to celebrate and deepen the bonds between sister cities across the Atlantic.
Starting June 25, the Summit aims to promote economic collaboration, cultural diplomacy, and youth engagement by leveraging the unique ties between Portuguese and American municipalities. With over 30 sister-city relationships linking towns in the Azores and mainland Portugal to communities across the United States—particularly in states with large Portuguese-American populations—the Summit will serve as a platform for innovative ideas and partnerships.
The program, held primarily at the University of the Azores’ Aula Magna in Ponta Delgada, will include panels, workshops, and roundtables addressing issues such as best practices in international municipal cooperation, cultural exchange and tourism development, youth empowerment and civic education, investment and economic development initiatives.
The closing ceremony, on June 27, will feature a keynote address by José Manuel Durão Barroso, former President of the European Commission and Prime Minister of Portugal
The official closing session will open with addresses by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores, and Nuno Morais Sarmento, President of FLAD
“The Sister Cities Summit is a powerful, enduring reminder of the enduring relationship between Portugal and the United States, especially through the lens of local communities,” said Nuno Morais Sarmento, President of FLAD. “These connections—born from shared history, migration, and culture—can now evolve into models for sustainable cooperation and youth-driven innovation.”
The Sisters Cities Summit is expected to include delegations from several U.S. cities with Portuguese-American heritage, including Fall River, New Bedford, Newark, Providence, and San José, alongside Portuguese counterparts from the Azores and the mainland.
The Luso-American Development Foundation was established on May 20, 1985, through the approval of Decree-Law No. 168/85 by the Portuguese government. Its creation was a direct outcome of the 1983 Cooperation and Defense Agreement between Portugal and the United States, which included provisions for military, economic, and energy support. One significant aspect of this agreement was the continued U.S. presence at the Lajes Air Base in the Azores.
Attendance is by invitation and registration. Municipal officials, educational institutions, NGOs, and community leaders are encouraged to register through FLAD’s official website at www.flad.pt.
Source: FLAD 40 Years
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The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
