The President of the Government stated in Horta that the implementation of a support plan for the dairy sector next year will allow reconciling the measures to increase farmers' income with the measures to reduce farm costs.

"In 2016, we will implement an ambitious plan to support the dairy industry that will combine measures to boost farmers' income with the measures to reduce costs. It will be an essential tool to ensure a better future for the sector as well as for Azorean farmers," said Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government spoke during the session that closed the parliamentary debate on the Investment Plan and Budget for the next year, the documents that will conclude this legislative period.

With this plan, the Government will reinforce the conditions so that "farmers may overcome, as best as possible, the difficult moment we are facing," which derives from the unfavourable situation of international markets.

Before the members of the Regional Parliament, the President of the Government announced that COMPAMID - Supplement for the Purchase of Medicine will be extended to the elderly who retired due to disability. Moreover, he assured that the Government "aims to do more" in terms of employment creation, despite the positive evolution of the unemployment rate.

"We are not satisfied because we aim to achieve more in terms of the competitiveness of our companies, the strengthening of our business fabric and the improvement of our export capacity. With a stronger economy, we can have more and better jobs for the Azorean people," said the President of the Government.
As for the Tourism sector, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the Government intends to strengthen its economic and environmental sustainability by extending the range of beneficiaries of its growth and upgrading its development strategy.

"That is why we will carry out the revision of the Tourism Management Plan of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in this legislative period with the aim of improving the structuring and development of tourism products," announced the President of the Government.

In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro also assured that the Government will "pay special attention" to the workers of the tourism sector.
"It is true that these times of crisis may have demanded a greater effort from everyone, but it is also true the times of recovery also demand that everyone should be properly compensated for their work and their efforts," said the President of the Government.

With regard to fisheries, Vasco Cordeiro emphasised the need to continue along the path towards the promotion of Azorean fish products, the renewal of infrastructures and the enhancement of fishers' income.

"This is why we will move forward, among other interventions, with the improvement of Topo port - whose tender was launched Friday -, Horta Fishing Centre, Ribeira Quente port on São Miguel Island, and of two ports in Biscoitos, Terceira Island," announced the President of the Government.

At the end of the parliamentary debate that took place at the Legislative Assembly, the President of the Government also said the Government "wants to do more" in Education. In addition to the redevelopment and construction of schools, the Government "will pay special attention to programmes such as PROSUCESSO so that its results in the fight against school failure may meet the targets the Azores want to achieve."

"We are not satisfied because we want to do more in regard to the contribution provided by Science and Culture to the development and progress of the Azores, not only in the enhancement of knowledge but also in the tools at our disposal so that, through innovation, our society may become increasingly better and our economy more competitive," said the President of the Government.

As for the social responses currently provided, Vasco Cordeiro assured the improvement of their coverage rate, reinforcing their role as tools promoting the integration and dignity of the Azoreans who are in a more fragile situation.

"We are not satisfied because we aspire to do more in the way the Regional Health Service responds to the needs of the Azorean population, either in the improvement of the conditions in which we want address the issue of waiting lists or in the way we prevent and treat diseases," said the President of the Government.

After reassuring the increase of the regional pension supplement and the regional family allowance supplement for children and youth in 2016, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the Government will address the issues of drug use, teenage pregnancy and the fight against domestic violence.

"All this will be achieved with the implementation of the Generation+ programme, an initiative that coordinates the responses provided by Education, Health and Social Solidarity so that we can reach the indicators that meet the Region's expectations and make the Azorean population feel proud of them," stressed the President of the Government.