On Tuesday the Prime Minister met with the President of the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Kanayo Nwanze.
Nwanze told him that IFAD is to continue its support for Mozambique and will shortly launch a new financial package for the country.
Vaquina stressed that IFAD has been a very important partner in the development of Mozambique’s agriculture and fisheries sector, highlighting IFAD’s work among artisanal fishermen through the ProPESCA project.
Vaquina pointed out that “we face challenges in food security and nutrition, and strengthening our capacity to increase agricultural production and productivity is crucial so that we do not have any hungry mothers and children. It is vital that we can transform our subsistence farmers into commercial farmers”.
Prime Minister Vaquina also met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Italian hydrocarbon company ENI, Paolo Scaroni.
ENI is the operator of the Offshore Area 4 natural gas field off the coast of northern Mozambique. It recently agreed to sell a twenty per cent stake in the block to the China National Petroleum Corporation for 4.21 billion US dollars. But this is subject to approval by the Mozambican government who will be looking to impose a capital gains tax on the proposed sale.
During his visit to Italy the Prime Minister will meet with the founder of the Sant’Egidio community, Professor Andrea Riccardi, who is also the Minister for International Cooperation.
Riccardi was one of the mediators in peace talks between the Mozambican government and the rebel movement Renamo that led to the Rome General Peace Accords in 1992.
Other meetings will be held with the Mozambican community in Italy; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Staffan De Mistura; and the President of the Italian employers’ federation Confindustria, Giorgio Squinzi.
Prime Minister Vaquina will also be received by Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Post published in: Africa News