The President of the Government conveyed this afternoon his satisfaction with the strength of the agricultural sector in the Region, whose dairy production is the best in the country, but reminded that the end of the EU milk quota system will force farmers to a greater effort in order to boost their competitiveness.

"We are the best in the country in the milk production sector, but we must work to successfully face the market liberalisation trend," said Carlos César.

Recalling that much progress has been made in recent years "in meat production with the sales of carcasses and consumption products," the President of the Government said that the opening of EU to MERCOSUL forces Azorean farmers to be "more organised and efficient in order to select, supply and secure the loyalty of our markets."

Carlos César revealed that the current Community support framework already registers investment commitments four times higher than the previous whilst the cultivated land area has increased 20 to 25% annually. These statistics evidence an important trend towards the "income and rural development, diversification of alternatives, growth of our productive capacity and the reduction of imports."

For the President of the Regional Government, "the creation of a strong and competitive economic space based on primary sector productions is achieved through its modernisation, quality improvement and the boldness of investors participating in this sector."

The President of the Government is sure about one thing: there is a regional governance in the Azores that has contributed to stability and financing of the agricultural sector as well as also increasingly skilled human resources that give a good grade and increased competitiveness to Azorean agriculture."

As he pointed out, "Azorean farmers are nowadays one of the best skilled businesspeople and investors in a regional and national context," which is even evidenced in adverse circumstances."

Carlos César spoke during the ceremony to launch the first stone for the construction of the São Miguel Agricultural Exhibition Park on the grounds of the Santana Fair in Ribeira Grande.
 
The infrastructure, which should be completed within fifteen months, has an estimated budget of over 8.5 million Euros and "integrates the new generation of infrastructures that enhance the modernisation of the agricultural sector," stressed the President of the Government.