The Regional Director for Rural Development stated today in Praia da Vitória that agriculture, one of the main pillars of the regional economy, has a great potential to attract new investors.
 
Fernando Sousa pointed out that the quality of agricultural production, its visibility, consumer acceptance of products, animal well-being and health are strengths that boost the growth of the agricultural sector, business opportunities and the emergence of new investors.
 
The Regional Director spoke at the First Interim Diaspora Investor Meeting, an event that brings together more than a hundred participants from 11 countries on Terceira Island.
 
For the Regional Government, viticulture is an example of a case of success, not only in terms of conversion and recovery but also in terms of the number of young people who have dedicated themselves to wine production.
 
"Between 2009 and 2017, the Government invested 20 million Euros in this sector, namely on the island of Pico," Fernando Sousa said, adding that the "Region should have 1,000 hectares of area suitable for the production of certified wine by the end of this year."
 
The Regional Director also mentioned the attractiveness of the timber sector, stressing that the Azores cryptomeria wood bears the international Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. This ensures the respect for sustainability and its suitability to new market trends.
 
Fernando Sousa also highlighted the immense growth potential of the meat sector, especially in the areas of cutting and packaging, that is, ready-prepared products that will generate economic gains to the Region.
 
"The export of cattle slaughtered in the Azores grew 99% in the last 10 years, reaching 8,000 tonnes in 2017," the government official said, noting that the Government has made considerable investments in the regional slaughter network as well as in the improvement of conditions for the sector.
 
According to Fernando Sousa, milk, whose production reached 610 million litres in 2017, has a considerable scope for new investments in the area of milk processing.
 
"There is a growing interest in traditional productions and, in this context, there is room and conditions for new cheese production units," the Regional Director stressed, pointing out the examples of Furnense and O Morro cheese production units; the latter has been recognised in New York by a specialty magazine.
 
In his speech, Fernando Sousa also addressed the support available under PRORURAL +, considering that it has been a very important tool in supporting new investments in the sector.
 
As for the PRORURAL + measure on cooperation and innovation, the Regional Director mentioned that there has been some demand for investments in these areas. In this context, he mentioned the case of an investor based in the USA, who submitted an investment project for the innovation of dairy products.