The Government of the Azores, the Azores Agricultural Federation, ANIL and Lactaçores signed in Praia da Vitória a Declaration of Commitments, agreed at the 2nd Milk Forum. It aims, among other things, "to develop a joint strategy in the search for new markets."
 
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment announced at the final press conference that the commitments also provide for "joint efforts to develop the necessary synergies for the development of new products, analysing investment opportunities in research, innovation and development."
 
"Improving the sharing of information and the development of partnerships, extending them to the technical level of each participating entity in order to make collaboration more extensive and intense" it is the third strategic commitment made by all partners in the milk sector." In this regard, the government official paid them his public recognition "for their effort and commitment."
 
At the presentation of the conclusions of the Milk Forum, the Regional Secretary stressed that these meetings aim to "promote reflection, common strategies and knowledge so that we may all take sustained and sustainable decisions in favour of Azorean economy."
 
In this context, the government official stressed that the Government of the Azores has requested to the team led by Professor Francisco Avillez, "special adviser" to the European Commissioner for Agriculture, the provision of complementary information, through the "analysis of everything produced regarding recent developments, costs and the profitability" of Azorean farms.
 
Enhancing and publicising the quality of raw materials, investing in improvements that allow gains in the competitiveness of dairy farms, reinforcing innovation, diversification and development of products and promoting internationalisation are other strategic challenges.
 
On the challenge of internationalisation, the President of the Society for the Business Development of the Azores, Arnaldo Machado, presented the subsystem of incentives that also includes dairy industries in their export capacity, which AICEP Portugal considered "extremely favourable."
 
The meeting featured the presentation of the Azores Milk and Dairy Portal, a platform designed by the Planning Office of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and the Environment. It comprises and provides relevant information for producers, industry and marketing.
 
The forum will be held under the main theme "Communication and Globalisation: Opportunities and Challenges for the Milk and Dairy Sector of the Autonomous Region of the Azores." In addition to guest speakers, it brings together the president of the Azores Agricultural Federation, Jorge Rita, the representative of National Association of Dairy Industries, Jorge Costa Leite, and the representative of LactAçores, António Aguiar.
 
The Government of the Azores also invited industry representatives and associations, Members of the European Parliament and the University of the Azores to participate in this meeting.