Brazil and Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) will be two of the first countries visited by the new President of Angola, João Lourenço, in a clear sign of the importance of strategic relations with both Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly in economic terms.

The Angolan head of state is expected to begin an official visit to Brazil on 3 May, which was agreed during a visit to Luanda by Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes, in which he announced financing to Angola in the amount of US$2 billion.

In the talks, Angolan Foreign Minister Manuel Augusto also highlighted the interest in efficient and capable business cooperation, which favours the establishment of public-private partnerships and/or the creation of Angolan-Brazilian mixed-capital companies. The aim is to develop and diversify the Angolan economy in energy, agriculture, agro-industry, manufacturing, health, education, and higher education, as well as the economic and financial sectors.

Lourenço has also confirmed his participation in July in the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) summit, which will take place in Cabo Verde, according to information from the Cape Verdean Minister for Foreign Affairs and Communities, Luís Filipe Tavares, who also paid an official visit to Angola last week.

Tavares added that Cabo Verde is aiming for the summit to be held on 17 and 18 July and that the state visit should take place at a later date.

The visit by the Cape Verdean minister also prepared the trip to the country by Cape Verdean Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, likely in April.

The visit by the head of the Cape Verdean government to Angola will be his first to an African country.

The Africa Monitor Intelligence newsletter reported that the next CPLP summit of heads of state and government is considered in diplomatic circles close to the organisation to be a turning point in terms of a lack of agenda, alongside the financial problems that have affected the functioning of the organisation in the last few years.

In the final phase of the Brazilian CPLP presidency – which will be passed over to Cabo Verde at the next summit, along with the executive secretariat from Sao Tome and Principe to Portugal – Brazil has been gaining influence within the organisation, according to the newsletter.

Last week, at Brazil’s request, a high-level meeting on family agriculture and sustainable development was held in Lisbon, in conjunction with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and chaired by Brazil’s José Graziano da Silva. (macauhub)