The President of the Government highlighted today the "major response" given by the regional dairy sector in recent years but warned that the challenges of the future require the "inevitable understanding" between production, processing and marketing.
 
After noting that the Regional Government will not be excluded from this concertation process, Vasco Cordeiro stated that it would be a huge mistake if "any of the interested parties - production, processing and marketing - would hope to thrive by itself while letting others fall.
 
The President of the Government spoke at the Regional Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, which met today on Graciosa Island. On the occasion, he considered that, in view of the challenges the sector faces, "these three components have no other choice but to cooperate and collaborate" with each other.
 
"If it is true that we cannot and should not set sales prices, since public intervention would be inadequate, the Regional Government cannot disregard the impact of the investments supported by public funds nor the monitoring of the relations between these components," said the President of the Government.
 
Before the advisers to the various sectors of regional agriculture, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that it is "essential that each one may understand the constraints faced by other stakeholders in order to undertake all efforts towards the strengthening of the sector."
 
"The Government does not set itself apart from this process and will naturally use the tools at its disposal, which concern the guidance of public investment that favours one component or another," Vasco Cordeiro said, stressing that it has to do with how public investment in a given sector are monetised, implemented and mobilised.
 
The President of the Government emphasising the success of the milk and dairy sector in the Region in terms of quality and quantity. However, it is not the fact that we have "reached this level" that will ensure "effective conditions in the future to overcome the challenges we face."
 
"The Government has been here and will always be here to, within the reach of its possibilities, to contribute and help as we recognise the importance of the sector from an economic standpoint and also in terms of the Region's image, which goes far beyond the agricultural sector," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In his speech, the President of the Government also pointed out that this meeting of the Regional Council is taking place at a particularly important and demanding time since the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for the 2021-2027 period is under discussion.
 
According to him, the European Commission's proposals, both in terms of financial amounts and the planned centralisation of programmes in Brussels to the detriment of regions, "has deserved a clear criticism from the Government of the Azores."
 
For Vasco Cordeiro, the prospect of increasing the participation rate of Regions from 15 to 30 percent is a proposal without justification, representing increased efforts on the part of regional entities that would have consequences on the implementation of these programmes.
 
"This is an aspect on which we are focused. We have taken action at European level and, until a global decision on this matter, we must continue to pressure," Vasco Cordeiro said, warning of the risks that may arise from the approval of the next financial framework following the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament.
 
On the other hand, the President of the Government pointed out the positive behaviour of the meat market, with an significant increase in cattle slaughtered in the Region. In this regard, he stressed that the strong investment in the slaughter network falls within the strategy to ensure the conditions for this sector to generate more added value in the archipelago.
 
In addition, there has been a "major response from the private sector" in the area of agricultural diversification, the President of the Government stressed, noting that this sector has great potential to contribute to the promotion of exports in the Region.