Brazil: government announces resumption of partnerships with African countries

By Daniella Almeida*

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is holding until Thursday (25) the Brazil-Africa: Relaunching Partnerships seminar at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília.

The event is part of the celebrations of Africa Day on May 25.

Under discussion, cooperation for developing nations, educational exchange, gender equity, entrepreneurship, social inclusion, creative economy, diversity, and contemporary international challenges.

At the opening of the meeting on Monday (22), the president of the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation, Ambassador Marcia Loureiro, highlighted the four axes under discussion: agriculture and food security, creative economy, digitalization, and education.

The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, emphasized the similarities between Brazil and Africa, which have common challenges, comparable opportunities, and a similar international insertion strategy.

“With African partners, President Lula’s foreign policy seeks to establish renewed bases for bilateral and multilateral relations.”

About the current moment, Maria Laura said that the goal is to bring a transformative potential to Brazilian and African countries’ societies, besides promoting the democratization of the international system, raising the participation of developing countries in global terms such as climate, food, and nutritional security, peace, and security.

According to the ambassador, the African ancestry of Brazilians and the resumption of the priority that Brazil will give to Africa in the current government will allow, at this moment, the exchange of knowledge and experiences to strengthen these relations.

“Together, Brazil and the African continent can enhance economic growth and social development with technological innovation and environmental preservation.”

At the meeting, the so-called South-South cooperation was also remembered, promoted by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the African continent to exchange experiences and good practices.

“We have a network of 32 basic technical cooperation agreements with African countries and with the African Union itself, which support more than 70 ongoing projects, especially in the areas of health, agriculture, food and nutritional security, livestock, fisheries, education, and professional training,” said Maria Laura.

*Edition Nádia Franco

With information from Agência Brasil

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