The President of the Government said today that the milk processing industry of Pico island has managed to get out of the "very strong storm" in which it had been over the last years. Nevertheless, he warned that we still need the attention and professionalism of parties involved in this process so that we can reach a successful conclusion.
 
The President of the Government spoke at the signing ceremony of the acceptance term of the incentive project for the restructuring of the old LactoPico plant amounting to 1.2 million Euros, of which 75 percent correspond to public funds. The project was presented by Leite Montanha cooperative.
 
Currently, milk is to be paid to producers in a timely manner, while the overdue payments are being made.
 
"If we consider that the path followed by the milk sector corresponds to a crossing, we can say that the milk processing industry on Pico continues sailing. We have managed to get out of a very strong storm, but we have not reached our destination port," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In today's ceremony, held on the second day of the Government's statutory visit to Pico, Vasco Cordeiro recalled the "long path that we followed to be here," after a situation that "threatened to drown out the milk processing industry on the island of Pico."
 
"On another occasion, I remember saying that 'LactoPico has not fallen and will not fall' and at the time I said that we needed a new approach to this challenge, which involved the co-responsibility of the cooperative, producers and, of course, the Government; the latter has been available to help with the exception of writing checks for the payment of debts," said the President of the Government.
 
Vasco Cordeiro also highlighted the availability and the understanding of Lactaçores regarding the importance of this industry to the island of Pico, which is still facing specific challenges of the island itself as well as others at regional, national and European level.
 
Despite the work done, "attention and professionalism are still needed as well as the awareness of our position in the milk market, so that we may be able to continue this journey a successfully reach our destination," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
"On behalf of the Government, I can convey our continued availability to support this process, but we cannot assume the responsibilities of the cooperative and those of producers. We are here to help and, in this context, each party involved should do its part, so that we may complete this process successfully," said the government official.
 
Thus, the President of the Government left a message of confidence with regard to the path that has been followed on this matter, but also a message of hope about the success of this process on the island of Pico.
 
"Therefore, the signing of the acceptance term is act of hope towards the future and is the result of the work and responsibility of all parties involved - Leite Montanha cooperative, Lactaçores, Government of the Azores, but, above all, milk producers from the island of Pico," said Vasco Cordeiro.