Lula argues that G20 priorities can contribute to Africa's development

In a meeting with Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Lula reaffirms his commitment to strengthening Brasil-Africa relations. The Brazilian president wants to take advantage of the G20 to discuss debt redemption for African countries and boost development in the region. Reform of global, political, and financial governance institutions was also on the agenda.

"We advocate that part of the debt owed by African countries to multilateral banks be transformed into investments in development," said Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a meeting with Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), on Tuesday, April 23rd, in Brasilia. Simone Tebet, Minister of Planning, accompanied the meeting. 

During the conversation, Lula highlighted the priorities of the Brazilian presidency of the G20 related to the development of the region and other countries of the Global South, such as the reform of international governance, and political and financial institutions.

"We need to convince the world that if there isn't some kind of development aid, the poorest countries will get poorer and the rich will get richer," said the Brazilian president. 

Akinwumi thanked Brazil for its efforts to include the African Union in the forum of the world's largest economies and for "putting Africa as a priority". "Thank you for your efforts to make the African Union part of the G20. I congratulate your leadership for drawing the world's attention to the need for development, the fight against hunger and poverty," he said.

Lula also recalled the partnerships between Brazil and Africa during his first two administrations, highlighting the production of anti-retroviral drugs in Mozambique; agricultural cooperation in Ghana, which sought to develop agricultural production in the African savannah; and the opening of a SENAI (National Industrial Learning Service) office in Angola. The president also highlighted the creation of Unilab (University for the International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony), in São Francisco do Conde, a municipality in Bahia, and the Open University of Brazil (UAB), in Mozambique. "We are committed to the development of Africa," said Lula. 

Partnerships for development 

The African banker spoke about the possibilities of partnering with Brazil to boost Africa's development and showed his admiration for the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS). Akinwumi also revealed the AfDB's plan to invest USD 2.4 billion to develop the region's capacity to produce medicines. He also highlighted his interest in the work of Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation). 

"Brazil can offer to assist Africa in technology, medicine production capacity, and experience in universal healthcare. We are very interested in Embrapa's work to transform the Cerrado (savanna) into a productive area in the African savannah, which is similar to the Cerrado. Africa can feed the world," he said.