Bilateral Meeting with H.E. Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde

Praia - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met with H.E. Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde in Praia, Cabo Verde, today at the start of his visit to the country at the invitation of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Director General and expressed appreciation for the fruitful and longstanding relations that exist between Cabo Verde and FAO. He recognized the huge contribution that FAO played in the elimination of hunger and eradication of poverty in Cabo Verde over the years.

He informed that the President of Cabo Verde had decided to bestow the Amílcar Cabral Order to FAO in recognition of the Organization’s diligent work and support extended to the people of Cabo Verde. He further stated that the first degree of the Amílcar Cabral Order is in recognition of the "invaluable contribution" of FAO to the development of Cabo Verde.

The Prime Minister requested FAO’s continued technical support to further increase South-South Cooperation working with FAO. He stated that there is a need to have more international partners to strengthen cooperation in other areas, and noted that Cabo Verde had already started working on irrigation projects on a smaller scale but required support to increase the size of the project. He stated that there was a need to improve the nexus between water and energy as there are cross-cutting issues that can be resolved if the nexus between water and energy is enhanced.

He further stated that there is a need to invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture to improve agricultural production in line with the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Director-General expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and recognition of FAO’s work through the Award. He expressed FAO’s continued commitment to Cabo Verde through various technical projects and programmes in support of agrifood systems transformation, including aquaculture and blue economy transformation.

He stated that Cabo Verde can benefit through South-South Cooperation in marine technology and renewable energy and water resource projects. He stated that for agricultural production to increase, there must be technology improvements and more scientific research but also to diversify plants that mitigate climate change effects. He further stated that there is a need to invest in agriculture with the private sector for long term outcomes and large-scale projects. He invited the government to use the Hand in Hand Initiative platform to accelerate and attract investors to engage in the projects.

Both appreciated the role and contribution of the FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo, who would shortly be retiring from the Organization, for her work over many years.

Both agreed to continue working together to accelerate agrifood systems transformation.