The governments of Brazil and Sudan have signed a protocol of understanding for cooperation and bilateral communication in the areas of sanitary health, animal products and other animal husbandry affairs of mutual interest.
The document was signed November 21, in São Paulo, by the Minister of Agriculture of Brazil, Reinhold Stephanes, and by the Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries of the Republic of Sudan, Ismail Khamis Jallab.
Sudan is mainly interested in the transfer of Brazilian technology and in attracting investment. "We would like to benefit from novelties in care of the land, in animal resources and in Brazilian research, especially in this area. I was very pleased to know that the government of Brazil is providing incentives to South-South cooperation and that Africa is among the priorities for technology transfer," said Jallab.
"We also want to invite investors so that they may learn about and invest in our animal resources and in other areas of agriculture. I want to emphasize that Sudan is interested in making use of laws for protection of investors who establish themselves in our country," he guaranteed.
The Sudanese minister also commented that Brazil and Sudan are partners in many aspects. "We are the largest country in Africa and Brazil is the largest in Latin America. Both countries have similar climates and, apart from that, we have excellent diplomatic relations – which is very good," he observed. "With the signing of this protocol we are opening an opportunity for cooperation that, after agriculture, should head on to other fields," he added.
Reinhold Stephanes said that Brazilian president Lula has been placing great emphasis on the priority of business between Brazil and Africa. "The president believes greatly in the potential of development of the African countries and in what the future of Africa may help the food needs of the world as it has much land and water, many rivers and people. All it needs is technology," explained the minister of agriculture.
"Brazil is also a tropical country and one with great development of technology. We place all of this at your disposal to transfer and even to adapt this technology for the several countries of Africa," he guaranteed.
"This agreement should start greater cooperation and bilateral communication in the areas of human protection, animal health and consultation mechanisms," said Stephanes.
After the signing of the protocol of understanding both ministers exchanged presents and formalized their intentions of closer ties between both regions. The meeting counted on the participation of part of the Sudanese delegation that includes 12 people, among them government members and representatives of the sugarcane and ethanol sectors.
Also present at the event was the Sudanese ambassador to Brazil, Omer Salih Abubakr, who accompanied the delegation during its participation in the International Conference on Biofuels: Biofuels as a driving force of sustainable development, between November 17 and 21, in São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil.
Anba
