The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment stressed in Angra do Heroísmo the added value generated by the quality of Azorean production, restating the commitment and support provided by the Regional Government to the milk sector in order to "find balanced solutions" for the "current situation of the international market; the latter was caused by the Russian import ban on European dairy products.

"We will support various sectors [production, industry and marketing] with the tool we have available under Community aid, such as the Rural Development Programme" and other programmes and incentive schemes created in the Region, "help creating balanced solutions to overcome this challenge," assured Luís Neto Viveiros.

The government official spoke after the meetings held between the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment with the boards of Unicol-União das Cooperatives de Lacticínios Terceirenses, the Agricultural Associations and Terceira Young Farmers' Associations. Luís Neto Viveiros expressed his belief in the "reasons" presented by the Region, which "are strong."

"It is important to find different forms to promote regional products, with special emphasis on products from Terceira, which have a strong potential," the government official stated, mentioning the announced drop in the milk price paid to producers.

Luís Neto Viveiros pointed out that "companies are currently for searching for new ways to promote, diversify and consolidate the image of the Azores, which should be valued." In this context, the Regional Secretary "defended a repositioning of the sector due to the current situation of the international market "in order to increase the income of producers."

The government official also recalled the Government approved this week the implementation strategy of "Azores Brand." According to him, it will "be a further contribution of the Regional Government to Azorean products, more specifically to the dairy products from Terceira, so that may benefit from this added value; therefore, industrial companies will have the possibility to promote what they buy [milk]."