The AIR Centre took part in the 4th International Conference of Portuguese and Spanish Languages, held in Cabo Verde on 11-12 November 2024. Deputy Executive Director Sofia Cordeiro joined a panel on Language Economics alongside representatives from Observatorio Nebrija del Español, ISCTE-IUL, and TAP Air Portugal.
Moderated by Raquel Caleya from the Instituto Cervantes, the panel examined the economic value of linguistic ties in global markets, internationalisation, and emerging sectors such as the ocean and space economies.

The conference explored how Portuguese and Spanish serve as key instruments for international cooperation. With approximately 290 million Portuguese speakers, mainly across the Southern Hemisphere, and over 600 million Spanish speakers worldwide, both languages play a pivotal role in global communication, trade, and knowledge exchange.

Sofia Cordeiro highlighted the AIR Centre’s efforts to connect research institutions across Portuguese and Spanish speaking countries in fields including climate, oceans, and space, showcasing initiatives such as an early warning system for agricultural management in the Azores, the Atlantic Aquaculture Forum, and fisheries assessment projects in Cabo Verde and Angola.

Conference proceedings noted that shared languages reduce transaction costs and facilitate technical cooperation between nations. Panelists also discussed strategies to strengthen the presence of Portuguese and Spanish in digital environments and artificial intelligence applications, reinforcing their relevance in the innovation-driven global economy.