Bissau, June 19, 2025 (Lusa) - Guinea-Bissau’s debt swap project with Spain for social support will be presented at the UN conference on investment in development to be held from the 30th in Seville, a diplomatic source has said.
The Spanish consul in Bissau, Lúcia Piñon Ameiros, was speaking to Lusa on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ceremony to hand over to the Guinea-Bissau Ministry of Health, in Bissau, a set of materials that will be used in programs to combat malnutrition in children and pregnant women, mediated by the World Food Program (WFP).
Announcing that Guinea-Bissau’s President, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has already confirmed his attendance at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Seville from June 30–July 3, Lúcia Ameiros said that, given that the UN-sponsored meeting will “analyze new mechanisms for cooperation and development,” the case of Guinea-Bissau will be presented as “a model, because it is implementing projects successfully, with many guarantees.”
The diplomat recalled that Spain exchanged a debt of more than US$6 million (€5.2 million) for support for social actions in Guinea-Bissau.
"Guinea-Bissau owed Spain around US$12 million [€10.4 million]. Spain forgave about US$6 million and the other US$6 million is being used to finance child nutrition, the fight against AIDS, the fight against malnutrition and treatment for the most vulnerable people, those suffering from tuberculosis,” she recalled.
Lúcia Ameiros pointed out that Spain has been using payments of US$6.68 million (€ 5.8 million) from Guinea-Bissau’s debt to improve the lives of “the most disadvantaged people” since 2021.
It is in this context that part of this money was used to purchase two vehicles, eight motorcycles and various computer equipment that Spain delivered on Wednesday to the Guinea-Bissau government through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).
The Spanish government has agreed to release Guinea-Bissau from its US$12 million (€11 million) debt on condition that the country invests US$6.7 million (€6 million) to support the WFP in the fight against malnutrition.
Under this project, the WFP also provides prenatal care through the National Nutritional Rehabilitation Program.
MB/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
