{"id":25648,"date":"2022-09-02T16:15:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T16:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/portugals-pm-announces-40-increase-in-cooperation-prog"},"modified":"2022-09-02T16:21:28","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T16:21:28","slug":"portugals-pm-announces-40-increase-in-cooperation-prog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/mozambique\/all-news\/portugals-pm-announces-40-increase-in-cooperation-prog","title":{"rendered":"Portugal\u2019s PM announces 40% increase in cooperation prog"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Mozambique. <\/strong><\/span>Portugal\u2019s prime minister, Ant\u00f3nio Costa, announced on Thursday a 40% increase in the funds allocated to projects under the Strategic Cooperation Programme with Mozambique, representing more than \u20ac90 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin the scope of this summit, we can reinforce the amount of the next Strategic Cooperation Programme [PEC] 2022-2026, which is the foundation of our strategic partnership between Mozambique and Portugal and will thus have a 40% increase in the funds dedicated to programmes, projects and actions, which will exceed \u20ac90 million,\u201d he announced.<\/p>\n

Costa made this announcement in Maputo at a press conference at the end of a meeting with the president of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, as part of the 5th Luso-Mo\u00e7ambican Summit.<\/p>\n

The PEC, signed in November 2021, is for five years. Costa said it \u201cwill focus on traditional areas of sovereignty, such as defence, justice, internal administration,\u201d and \u201cdeepens and renews cooperation in the strategic areas of education and health.<\/p>\n

Indicating that until 2021 the PEC \u201cspent \u20ac135 million\u201d, Costa added that the new framework foresees \u201c\u20ac185 million\u201d.<\/p>\n

Considering that the future \u201cnecessarily involves strengthening economic relations,\u201d Costa also said that as part of the 5th Luso-Mo\u00e7ambican Summit, \u201ctwo instruments to support business investment in Mozambique, the business fund for cooperation and the specific programme for business investment in Mozambique,\u201d would be reviewed and modernised.<\/p>\n

Costa added that, on the sidelines of the summit, the \u201cLusophone Compact\u201d would be signed, a programme through which Portugal will provide guarantees of \u20ac400 million in funding from the African Development Bank for business investment in the community of Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP).<\/p>\n

The Portuguese prime minister also noted two other protocols that would be signed on Friday and that \u201caim to strengthen the development potential of the Cabo Delgado region,\u201d with the installation of \u201ca research centre dedicated to gas and oil and a vocational training programme in the area of gas, which will be aimed at around 1,200 young Mozambicans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are fighting terrorism not only from a military and humanitarian point of view but also from the point of view of the region\u2019s development,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

Costa considered that Mozambique \u201chas enormous potential from an agricultural point of view\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if humanity faces a huge challenge in its energy transition, it faces no less of a challenge from the point of view of food security, and so diversification, increase and quality of food is an ever greater challenge and where Mozambique has a decisive role,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n

The governments of Portugal and Mozambique signed six cooperation protocols on Thursday as part of the 5th Luso-Mo\u00e7ambican Summit in education, heritage rehabilitation, technical and operational skills of the Mozambican security forces and services, justice and agriculture.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn all fronts, from the point of view of political cooperation, military cooperation in the fight against terrorism, development in the area of health or education, or from the point of view of economic relations, this 5th summit will certainly be a significant milestone in our relations,\u201d Costa said.<\/p>\n

Drawing a picture of the situation in Mozambique compared to the last summit in 2019, the prime minister said that the country \u201chas a new framework, frankly favourable to investment,\u201d particularly by Portuguese companies, with the resumption of financial support from the International Monetary Fund (after the hidden debts\u2019 scandal) and the retreat of terrorism.
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