Presidents of Portugal and Mauritius close Euro-African Forum

The presidents of Portugal and Mauritius will close the Euro-African Forum, which starts this Monday with the theme “Africa: The Next Chapter – Partnership for Growth,” the organization announced on Monday.

“The Euro-African Forum 2024, an event organized by the Council of the Portuguese Diaspora that will take place today and Tuesday at the Universidade Nova SBE in Carcavelos, Cascais, will conclude with the “Chat with the Presidents,” a high-level conversation with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic and Honorary President of the Council of the Portuguese Diaspora, and Prithvirajsingh Roopun, President of the Republic of Mauritius, according to the organization.

The participation of the President of Mauritius in the Euro-African Forum “is part of the official programme of his first state visit to Portugal, the purpose of which is to strengthen relations” between the two countries, “discussing cooperation opportunities of mutual interest for the European and African continents”, the text adds, which reports the participation of more than a hundred speakers who will discuss various topics related to European and African interests.

Today, the work begins with the opening of the meeting, attended by the President of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, António Calçada e Sá, the President of the Forum, Durão Barroso, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, the President of the City Council of Cascais, Carlos Carreiras, and the Rector of the University of Nova Pedro Oliveira.

“The very high institutional support and the presence of the President of the Republic significantly enhance the capacity of the Euro-African Forum and strengthen Portugal’s position as a contact platform to stimulate and strengthen relationships that create value and growth opportunities for Africa and Europe,” said António Calçada e Sá, quoted in the statement.

In addition to the two presidents and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the participation of the Minister of Economy Pedro Reis, the Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Minister of Health of Angola Silvia Lutukuta and the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development of Malawi, Sam Dalitso Kavale.

The various topics covered in the panels include investment and internationalisation, energy and mining, education, sports, digitalisation, infrastructure and urbanism, agribusiness and healthcare.