The President of the Government highlighted the potential of the natural heritage of the Azores as an asset for the development of the Region in several areas, pointing out as example the recent boost in the wine sector of Pico Island.
 
"I am one of those who believes we can seize the potential of our heritage at various levels, turning it into an asset for the development of our Region," said Vasco Cordeiro, who spoke at the ceremony of laying the first stone of the wine cellar to be built by the Azores Wine Company.
 
In this regard, Vasco Cordeiro pointed out that the Azorean Government has implemented measures to render vineyards and wine production more profitable in the Region, thus responding to the "stimulus" provided by the private initiative to this sector. This is quite evident not only in the maintenance of vineyard landscapes, but also in economic activity that generates wealth and employment.
 
"With regard to the area of the Protected Landscape of Pico Island Vineyard Culture, our production area only reached about 100 hectares 10 years ago.  Nowadays, if we take into account the areas in production, the maintenance contracts and the projects for the recovery vineyards already implemented, our production area covers more than 800 hectares of vineyards," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
"This evolution clearly demonstrates the path we have been following and the responses provided by incentive systems to private entities," said the President of the Government. In this context, he stressed the need to always guarantee the sustainability of these projects, either for their promoters or for the communities in which they operate.
 
At the launching ceremony of the construction of the new wine cellar, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that all values associated with the natural heritage of Pico Island and this sector of activity should be safeguarded by the promoters of the investment projects.
 
"Producers are the main interested parties in safeguarding and maintaining of all factors that will enhance the value, genuineness, confidence and authenticity of this heritage," said the President of the Government.
 
In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro also stressed that these partnerships between the Government and private entities demonstrate the potential that is increasingly needed to develop and strengthen the most varied areas of activity.
 
"We cannot be satisfied, and we must maintain this attitude of proactivity, dynamics and demand of ourselves," concluded the President of the Government.
 
The new wine cellar of the Azores Wine Company, which represents an investment of about three million Euros supported by Community funds, also includes several tourist apartments and spaces for wine tasting and sales, among other services.