David Burt highlighted the potential of stronger ties with the Azores after an official visit to the islands.

During a three-day trip, the Premier and Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, met Azorean officials and discussed areas of potential collaboration, including bringing dairy experts to Bermuda to assist local dairy production.

Mr Burt said: “We took part in a programme that showcased the very best of the Azores from world-leading ocean conservation and geothermal energy to education, technology, food production and culture.

“At every stop, we saw the remarkable synergies between our two island communities and the potential of a deeper partnership.

“For the as-many-as one in five Bermudians who have some form of Azorean heritage, these islands are part of their story, and this visit made it clear that the relationship between Bermuda and the Azores now reaches beyond our historic ties towards a shared future.”

The visit stemmed from an invitation from José Manuel Bolieiro, the President of the Azores, who came to Bermuda in 2024 to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Golden Rule, which brought the first Portuguese emigrants to Bermuda in 1849.

The Bermuda delegation was welcomed in the Azores on Sunday by Paulo Jorge Abraços Estevão, the Regional Secretary of Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, before meeting with Mr Bolieiro.

Representatives went on to tour the Terra Nostra Park and visit Furnas, including the island's geothermal energy facilities.

On Monday, the delegation received a presentation on the Blue Azores Programme before taking part in a working meeting on the Azorean community in Bermuda alongside Andrea Moniz-DeSouza, the president of the Association of Azorean Emigrants and Honorary Consul of Portugal in Hamilton, and Richard Ambrosio, the Azorean Diaspora Councillor for Bermuda.

The group visited the Azores Autonomy Museum Centre and the Azorean Emigration Museum, continuing to the Nonagon Science and Technology Park on Tuesday.

Mr Burt concluded the visit by meeting Luis Estrela, the Regional Director for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food within the Government of the Azores, sampling regional products.

A spokeswoman said: “During this meeting, the Premier and regional director agreed that the Azorean Government would send dairy experts to Bermuda to assist with matters related to Bermuda’s dairy production.”

Mr Darrell said the visit served as an opportunity to learn more about the Azores and provide greater context for its connections to Bermuda

He added: “Discussions on tourism and cultural co-operation highlighted areas where our islands can continue to work together.”