Yokohama, Japan, Aug. 20, 2025 (Lusa) - Cabo Verde's prime minister said on Wednesday that Japan is "an excellent partner" for Africa to boost the growth of economies and make more profitable use of the continent's resources.

"Japan, with its experience in knowledge, technology and pragmatic cooperation, is an excellent partner for us to jointly boost the sustainable growth of African economies and make more profitable use of Africa's immense natural resources," said Ulisses Correia e Silva.

Speaking at the thematic event “Building a resilient food system and a local economy in Africa anchored in the blue economy and agriculture”, as part of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on Africa's Development (TICAD), taking place this week in Yokohama, on the outskirts of the Japanese capital, Correia e Silva emphasised that "the development of the blue economy and agriculture is a strategic priority for Africa".

These two sectors, he explained, "can contribute significantly to reducing food insecurity, diversifying economies and increasing regional and international trade".

In his speech, Cabo Verde's prime minister stressed that the archipelago has invested heavily in measures to compensate for the country's exposure to severe droughts, pointing to the examples of the production of desalinated water, and the commitment to agriculture as a way of reducing food insecurity and imports.

"In agriculture and the blue economy, opportunities are created for private investment with ecosystems that encourage innovation and productivity," he concluded.

TICAD is taking place until Friday in Yokohama, Japan, with the theme “Strengthening partnerships for the sustainable development of the African continent”, and participants include the president of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, and the president-in-office of the African Union and Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço.

MBA/ADB // ADB.

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