The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, highlighted the role that the government and the funds of the Recovery Plan are having in the transformation of the agri-food sector, on its way to a “greener, digital and sustainable” model. He did so during the inauguration of the day on the agri-food sector of the Federation of Industry, Construction and Field of UGT (UGT FICA), which was also attended by the general director of Food of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), José Miguel Herrero.
Pedro Blanco highlighted the impact in Galicia of the first call for aid from PERTE, managed by the Ministry of Industry, with four projects involving Galician companies and amounting to 54 million euros in aid. At the same time, it encouraged companies in the sector to participate in the second call for aid endowed with 100 million euros, and which remains open until November 4.
“We want to continue transforming our productive fabric with the Recovery Plan, reaching as many companies as possible to strengthen their competitiveness and profitability,” said Pedro Blanco, who stressed that in this new call “the investment necessary to access subsidies was reduced, which will facilitate that more companies in Galicia, small and medium-sized, can receive aid from the Government.”
In this line, he recalled that PERTE Campo is promoting in Galicia innovative projects in the dairy sector, in the wine sector, but also exploring new business routes in the field of mushrooms or algae. “A PERTE that does not give the coasts to the sea and that will soon announce the aid established for the sea-industry chain, which reaches 40 million euros,” he said.
Pedro Blanco said that “the primary sector has the outstretched hand of this Government, which is there for us and in the bad times. And we will continue to be so that Galicia and Spain do not stop being referents throughout Europe,” he said. This respect was exemplified by the Government’s aid to deal with epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHE) or measures to reduce the impact of rising prices, such as aid for livestock farms, the lowering of VAT on basic food products or bonuses for agricultural and maritime diesel.
“Let us always look at it from the dialogue and listening to your demands, such as with the simplification of the CAP, the reinforcement in the application of the chain law or the support for animal health, and we will continue to do so to guarantee generational relief and to make our farms competitive and profitable,” he added.
The delegate concluded by noting that the Government will continue to work to improve people’s lives. “We have a long road ahead of us; a hard but motivating road, because in our hands, in the hands of everyone, consumers, administrations and companies, there is the challenge of changing the way we do things for the greater benefit of society as a whole.”