São Paulo – Representatives of 12 countries started on Monday (10th) the fifth edition of the Course for African Diplomats, offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) in Brasília. According to information sent to ANBA this Tuesday (11th), will take part in the course representatives from South Africa, Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The course ends next Wednesday (19th). Academics and Brazilian diplomats will present lectures about the relations between Brazil and the African countries.
“We hope for a better knowledge of the potential of the Brazilian economy and the opportunities for strengthening the relationship with African countries on the part of diplomats that could take on pivotal positions in their respective countries”, said the Itamaraty to ANBA.
Besides the lectures, the course will allow the representatives of the 12 countries to get to know Brazilian institutions in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro. They should be welcomed, in the next few days, at the Congress, the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), at the mining company Vale and Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), which conducts researches in the health sector.
Brazilian chancellor Mauro Vieira said, during the course opening, that Brazil has expanded its operations in the continent, where it holds 37 embassies, and that the country has been making an effort to take the relationship with African countries to a new level. “We also see Africa as an important player and partner in the task of facing the great international challenges and in the establishment of a more fair and multipolar global order. It’s essential to hear the voice and secure more space to Africa, as well as to Latin America, in the international decision-making procedures”, said Vieira in his speech.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
