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I was particularly interested in being invited to preside at the inaugural act of the Nacional Flour Mill, a significant investment of the Cerealis company in their Beato facilities, which enhances the vitality of this industrial group, a domestic market leader, and one of the main Iberian groups in its sector.

This factory, so well known to the Portuguese and where, for many years, a substantial part of the raw materials that compose their food has been processed, has weathered the time, but only the external view of their building still resembles its original features.

The inside of this manufacturing unit now comprises one of the most modern flour milling facilities in Europe, fitted out with the most advanced technology available in plant and equipment, with a very high level of performance and quality, thus allowing the Group to continue adding national value and to compete both in domestic and foreign markets, with its wide range of food products.

For these reasons I am extremely pleased to be a party to this event and also in recognizing, as President of the Republic, the excellent performance of the Cerealis Group.

I congratulate its Corporate Officers and equally greet all those working in the several domestic production centres of the Group.

And my congratulations do not only comprise this undertaking but also all those that you have carried out during almost one hundred years, continuously and consistently, always innovating, adding value to our economy.

This capacity for adaptation to the demanding reality of the market is of great importance for the international assertion of our economy and must be a main concern in the activities of Portuguese enterprises.

Since the Country’s economic growth and the creation of employment depends upon the actions of entrepreneurs, it would constitute a grievous error should public powers and society in general not recognize the merits of those who invest, innovate and conquer new markets for national production.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the cereals sector we unfortunately continue depending excessively from external means, whether in cereals for bread paste or in cereals for pasta or yet in cereals for livestock fodder.

The self supply rate is, in effect, the lowest in all of the food sector.

We imported, in 2012, more than 1,300 million euros in cereals and connected goods, thus providing a very negative contribution towards our foreign food balance, since our exports in this sector only totalled 322 million euros.

The difference between imports and exports, in excess of 1,000 million euros, corresponds, in its turn, to approximately one third of our current deficit in agricultural food supplies.

I should however emphasize that last year’s deficit was approximately 400 million euros lower than in the previous year, due to the excellent export values obtained, but the truth is that it is still excessively high.

I am aware that the problem with our high external dependence regarding cereals does not lie with the processing industry since, in 2012, this activity brought about a growth in our exports, to which the Cerealis Group certainly contributed.

The issue lies, of course, in our natural climatic conditions which, in some cases, do not allow their production in terms that may generate an acceptable return to our framers.

Although I consider that this area’s conditions may always be improved, as has anyway happened with the growing of maize and barley for the production of malt, what is important above all is to increase the production of agricultural food products adapted to our natural climatic conditions, be it for export or for substituting imports, in order to obtain a global reduction in our food dependence relative to external supplies.

I am confident that Portuguese farmers, supported by the processing industry and by the appropriate public incentives, may provide a decisive impulse in order that this objective is achieved.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I end by wishing the Cerealis Group and all its workers that they continue contributing, with their investment and work, towards the healthy nourishment of the Portuguese, towards the technical and scientific progress of the processing industry and for the creation of value and wealth for our economy.

Thank you very much