Since its institution, and most recently with the approval of Regional Law LR 2/2003, Regione Veneto, in association with other public administrations, bodies and associations, has worked to disseminate its culture and values abroad by supporting and promoting the activities both of people who left Veneto to move abroad and of their descendents. As time went by, a network was set up between the Veneto region and Veneto people, institutions, economic players and communities who had settled on five continents with the aim of developing ties with their homeland. The most communities, or circoli veneti, were set up in Brazil, Switzerland, Australia, Argentina and Canada
(Note 2) (Figure 18.3.1).
Young people of Veneto origin resident abroad have been financed with 33 training and research courses and 256 cultural exchange projects, as well as with 15 study grants, since 2005. Furthermore, 10 research projects were set up on Veneto emigrants to the US, South Africa, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Canada and Brazil in order to find out more about how emigration affected the Veneto region and the current lives of Veneto communities abroad
(Figure 18.3.2) and
(Figure 18.3.3).
Regarding cultural activities, the support of Veneto's municipalities, especially those affected by emigration, as well as of provinces, schools, volunteer and cultural associations, enabled towns to be twinned and friendship pacts to be set up with municipalities abroad, especially in South America, where there are numerous Veneto communities; events organised by people of Veneto origin resident abroad have also been set up in Veneto. There were 250 events of this kind between 2007 and 2009
(Figure 18.3.4).
Regarding financial assistance, grants were given for the return journey and initial accommodation of Veneto emigrants and people native to Veneto who decided to return to Veneto to live. Between 2006 and 2009, 1,056 families took advantage of these grants.
In cooperation with Veneto's trade associations and chambers of commerce, Veneto communities abroad were involved in a range of initiatives geared towards developing economic and trade relations. One such iniziative was "GlobalVen" promoted by Regione Veneto's Department for Migratory Flows in order to foster trade and relations between local professionals and people of Veneto origin resident abroad. The project involves a database of Veneto professionals worldwide and aims to provide a network of contacts between different professional categories. This has resulted in the creation of a virtual space where professionals and entrepreneurs in Veneto and abroad can liaise, swap products, know-how, technology and propose joint ventures.
