Praia, Aug. 21, 2025 (Lusa) - Cabo Verde and Japan will strengthen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, water mobilisation and the blue economy, Cabo Verde's prime minister announced on Thursday, following a meeting in Yokohama with his Japanese counterpart.
"We agreed on priorities in the technical qualification of human resources, namely in artificial intelligence, in water mobilisation infrastructures and the development of the blue economy," said Ulisses Correia e Silva on his official Facebook page.
At the meeting, held on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), the head of government said that the water supply project in Santiago, financed to the tune of 150 million dollars (128 million euros) by the Japanese cooperation agency JICA, "after several setbacks and adjustments, is about to get underway", and is already in the approval phase for the Japanese construction company to start work.
According to Correia e Silva, the Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, "encouraged" Cabo Verde to open an embassy in Tokyo, following the decision already taken by Cabo Verde's government.
"We have asked the Japanese government to consider signing a visa exemption agreement for Cabo Verde's diplomatic and service passports," he added.
At the meeting, Cabo Verde also defended the recognition of its specificities as a small island developing state (SIDS), especially in terms of access to concessional financing and donations within the framework of cooperation with Japan.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ulisses Correia e Silva was also received on a courtesy visit by the mayor of Yokohama, with whom he discussed opportunities for cooperation in areas such as water management, waste treatment, port administration and vocational training.
The mayor highlighted existing relations with African cities such as Abidjan and Cotonou, and expressed interest in establishing partnerships with Cabo Verde's cities as well.
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, the President-in-Office of the African Union and Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, and the Prime Minister of Sao Tome, Américo Ramos.
Speaking at TICAD, Ulisses Correia e Silva said that "the approach of creating value through natural resources is just as valid for the sun, wind and sea as it is for minerals and rare earths", after presenting the main initiatives that the archipelago is implementing to capitalise on its geographical specificities.
"The question is the same for Africa: how to create value that energises the economy and benefits people by applying resources to reduce poverty, create decent jobs and increase the quality of life of citizens," continued the prime minister, concluding that "Japan has good experience in management, scientific research, knowledge, technology and the institutional framework for creating value from scarce natural resources, which should inspire Africa."
RS/ADB // ADB.
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