Brazil signs cooperation agreements in several sectors with Cuba

During a visit to Cuba, ministers who accompanied the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), signed cooperation agreements, also endorsed by the president, which, according to the government, should “expand the exchange of technologies between the 2 countries”. The cooperation memorandums include the areas of health, science and technology and agricultural development.

In the health area, a cooperation protocol was signed that provides for the exchange of technologies and knowledge on topics such as chronic diseases, vaccines, biotechnology and biodiversity, communicable and neglected diseases. The protocol also provides for the development of innovative products.

“The importance of this agreement is that Brazil benefits from cutting-edge knowledge that Cuba has developed, years of investments in this area. In this joint development, Brazil brings its expertise in clinical research and its ability to produce on scale, in public laboratories and private laboratories”said the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade.

Ricardo Stuckert/Planalto – 16.set.2023

Moment of signing Acts. In the photo, left. to say: minister of agrarian development, Paulo Teixeira; President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel; and the Cuban Minister of Agriculture, Ydael Pérez Brito

The document also includes an association between Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz) and Biocubafarma. This association will enable technology transfer for the national production of NeuroEpo, an innovative medicine used to delay the effects of Alzheimer’s and erythropoietin, in addition to being used in the treatment of anemia due to kidney failure, leukemia and other diseases.

The agreement also enables the development of a mutual assistance policy on health regulations for the approval and commercialization of medicines, medical devices, vaccines and other technologies.

In the area of ​​Science and Technology, the main measure signed deals with the reactivation of the Brazil-Cuba Steering Committee for Science, Technology and Innovation. The intention is for the committee to meet again within 60 days to discuss scientific and technological cooperation between the 2 countries, with priority on biotechnology, bioeconomy, biorefineries, biomanufacturing, renewable energies, agricultural sciences, sovereignty, food security, climate, sustainability, education and research networks.

“We want to resume, not only in the area of ​​the health industrial complex, but in other broader areas, such as the bioeconomy. We want to hold a new committee meeting in 60 days. It is a relationship in which we learn and what we have the most expertise we offer, we seek a logic of cooperation and healthy partnership, which allows us to find solutions for Brazil and Cuba”stated the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos.

In the area of ​​agrarian development, Minister Paulo Teixeira, of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, signed an agreement with the Cuban government to establish a cooperation program in the agricultural area, which covers the areas of agriculture, livestock, agroindustry, governance of land, sovereignty and food and nutritional security.

The focus is on the exchange of technology and technical cooperation in seeds and seedlings, bio-inputs and fertilizers, conservation agriculture, urban and peri-urban agriculture, priority food products for human and animal consumption, reproduction of priority agri-food species, efficient use of water, registration and land management and agri-food supply.

On Saturday (September 16, 2023), after the G77 + China Summit of Heads of State and Government, Lula had a bilateral meeting with the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel. This was the 3rd meeting between the 2 presidents this year. It was also the first official trip by a Brazilian president to the Caribbean country in 9 years. The last one was in 2014, when then president Dilma Rousseff (PT) was in Havana, the Cuban capital.

Ricardo Stuckert/Planalto – 16.set.2023

President Lula during a meeting with the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, at the Palace of the Revolution, in Havana

UN General Assembly

From Havana, the president headed to New York, in the United States, where he will give the first speech of the general debate of heads of state at the 78th UN General Assembly, next Tuesday (19). It will be the eighth time that President Lula will open the general debate among heads of state. In the eight years he governed Brazil, in his first two terms, he only stopped appearing in 2010.

With information from Agência Brasil