The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) organised the event in cooperation with the Municipality of Sines and the Cape Verdean Association of Sines and Santiago do Cacém, bringing together representatives from the central and local governments, as well as social partners and civil society organisations.

The first session, the details of which were set out in a statement issued by the organisers, included comments by Pedro Portugal Gaspar, who is the President of the AIMA Board of Directors; Álvaro Beijinha, the Mayor of Sines; Pedro do Ó Ramos, President of the Port of Sines; and Aníbal Reis Costa, Vice-President of the CCDR Alentejo.

During the meeting, which was attended by Vera Egreja Barracho, a member of the AIMA board, as well as staff from the agency and representatives from the local CLAIM (Local Support Centre for Migrant Integration), the Social Security Institute, the Polytechnic University of Setúbal, various companies and associations, the main topics discussed were Portuguese language learning and access to employment, housing, education, and public services.

The initiative also included providing capacity-building for local stakeholders and outlined AIMA’s support network, which currently consists of 36 offices that are directly managed, 23 “AIMA Spaces” which are operated in partnership with municipalities, and the Local Support Centres for Migrant Integration (CLAIM).

After the previous editions held in Carregal do Sal and Caldas da Rainha, the "AIMA em Rede" programme will continue on 29 September with an online workshop concentrating on funding for integration projects.

Set The Portugal News as your preferred source for news on Google

GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google