The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment revealed yesterday in Lisbon that the Government has determined a strategy for the promotion of Azorean milk and dairy products outside the region in order to provide an outlet for these products. It is being implemented in partnership with the Society for the Business Development of the Azores - SDEA, with focus on Middle Eastern and Canadian markets.

 In this context, Luís Neto Viveiros met yesterday with the Ambassador of Canada in Portugal, Jeffrey Marder, stressing that, after the meeting, "the [existing] proximity with our Region" can and should represent a competitive advantage in to the opening of that market over the next year.

 "The recent approval of the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada" will streamline the export of dairy products to Canada and increase their quantity," said Neto Viveiros.

 Stressing that "the first to take advantage of this circuit will be those that are most successful," the Regional Secretary announced that the Regional Government is "establishing contacts with Canadian businesspeople" in order to promote a trade mission to the archipelago later this year. Its aim is to "show the characteristics of Azorean milk and dairy products."

 Neto Viveiros has ensured that the Government of the Azores will "take action in different fronts" in the context of the promotion strategy, which will soon be presented to partners and the sector in general.

 Without neglecting the domestic market, the Azorean Government intends to compete "for the internationalization" of regional milk and dairy and ensure sustainability of production, companies and the regional economy by providing an outlet for these products.

 The government official also stressed the public investment that has been channelled to the infrastructures designed to support agriculture and render it more competitive by reducing operating costs, modernising farms and revitalising the agri-industry as well as the claims towards the implementation of exceptional measures in some regions. The actions carried out by the Government of the Azores aim to proactively contribute to the stabilisation and future rebound in prices of milk paid to producers in the current European scenario of crisis in this sector.