The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated today the Board of Director of Sinaga "is working" on the recommendation issued by the Azorean Government to "develop a strategic plan" that should be concluded by the first half of 2017. It will allow the Government to "take a decision regarding the company's future, which will not be limited to the public component."
 
João Ponte spoke in Ponta Delgada at the end of a meeting with the Union of Manufacturing Industry Workers to address the situation of the company. He pointed out that the decision process will "involve social partners, unions and workers."
 
The Regional Secretary said "the situation of the company's employees will be always safeguarded."
 
For the government official, "the decision is not up to the Regional Government." In this regard, he added that the situation of Sinaga requires "a solution that includes private partners to ensure the company's sustainability due to its importance in agricultural diversification, soil rotation and the regional export component."
 
João Ponte said the company's future "does not involve the current factory model, but rather a more advanced technological model. In this context, we must ensure Community funding to the new investment."
 
"A new model in which public participation starts from an early stage, but always involving private participation," added the government official.
 
"Sinaga is preparing a technical and financial document that points out the investment that will be needed, the type of technology to be used, the type of processing it will do and the area of production land that will be necessary to render the business profitable. After this document is ready, we will find strategic partners to ensure the company's viability, which will rely on a private component."