Members of the delegation participating in the upcoming South Coast trade mission to the Azores will report on the trip following their return to the U.S. at a press conference scheduled for Monday, February 25 at 9 a.m. in Board Room of the Foster Administration Building at UMass Dartmouth.

The participants in the press conference will include Congressman Barney Frank, State Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton; State Rep. Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport; State Rep. Antonio Cabral, D-New Bedford; UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean MacCormack; Bristol Community College President Jack Sbrega; and Fall River Business leader Fernando Garcia. The February 15-22 trade mission is designed to strengthen educational, cultural and economic ties between the South Coast and islands.

Among the activities planned for the mission are:

- Meetings with top Azorean officials including President Cesar to discuss potential partnerships with southeastern Massachusetts and UMass Dartmouth.

- Meetings with leaders of the University of the Azores focusing on potential collaborations.

- A major conference focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the following areas: Energy and Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries, Tourism, and Health Care.

- Visits to the U.S. air base on the island of Terceira; the Azorean Regional Assembly, the islands' legislative body; the University of the Azores Fisheries and Oceanography Department, and the islands' geothermic power station.

- A commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Capelinhos Volcano eruption which touched off a major immigration movement from the islands to America.