The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment revealed in Praia da Vitória that the Government of the Azores is preparing the creation of a line of credit together with financial institutions "intended to reinforce the competitiveness of Azorean farms, through interest subsidies."

Luís Neto Viveiros spoke at the closing session of the 8th Agricultural Days of Praia da Vitória. The government official stressed that this is "another tool intended to foster a sustainable policy of investments in the agricultural sector, thus strengthening the financial capacity of farms to meet planned investments and their working capital as well."

"We neither gave up nor felt discouraged with the difficulties or obstacles that might arise," the Regional Secretary said, pointing out the new challenges emerging from the end of the milk quota system, the Russian ban on European dairy products and the expected reduction of consumption in emerging markets.

"As we know, our farmers have not given up," said Luís Neto Viveiros. In this context, the government official noted the entrepreneurial capacity of Azorean producers, who have largely invested in modernisation, quality and training in the past decade.

"When I am asked, I say, with conviction, that the Azores are prepared to face the challenge arising from the end of milk quotas as long as the sector focuses its efforts on the pursuance of this common goal, which includes the Government of the Azores," restated the Regional Secretary.

Luís Neto Viveiros reiterated that "none of the key pillars of the sector [production, processing and marketing] can have the whim to survive alone." The government official praised the good performance of Lactaçores and the investments made by agro-industry sector in the preparation path for the liberalisation of markets, calling the attention to the opportunities that are yet to be explored in the national market.

"The national market, which lacks in dairy products, continues to be the main destination market of Azorean products," the government official stressed, adding that it "can be won by regional entrepreneurs."

The Regional Secretary also ensured that, "despite the justified belief in our ability and all the efforts we have been undertaking in the face of an unregulated market," the Regional Government will maintain the pressure "with several Community institutions" so that the Azores, as an Outermost Region, may have access to compensation mechanisms.