Portugal and Senegal have agreed to work together more on training programs in the fields of tourism and diplomacy, as well as increase their collaboration in maritime-related industries such as fishing and ports.
Both the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joo Gomes Cravinho, and his Senegalese counterpart, Assata Tall Sall, addressed the press in Dakar, where the 3rd Luso-Senegalese Joint Commission was held. They spoke about the signing of memorandums and agreements in these areas, as well as the preparation of others.
“We have signed two agreements, and our teams have worked on identifying other areas of cooperation,” said Joo Gomes Cravinho, adding that these are “a memorandum to strengthen diplomatic training” between the institutions of the two countries working at this level, as well as an agreement in the area of infrastructure. “Our teams have worked on identifying other areas of cooperation,” said Joo Gomes Cravinho.
The Portuguese Minister emphasized the importance of the sea and the fishing industry, among other aspects of the blue economy, in the cooperation between Portugal and Senegal, which shares a border with Guinea-Bissau. Additionally, the Portuguese Minister disclosed that the Secretary of State for the Sea, José Maria Costa, and the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Teresa Coelho, have identified opportunities for the two countries to develop these areas together.
According to Joo Gomes Cravinho, this is “a sector in transformation,” and in addition to fisheries, there are new prospects “for example to explore the sea for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.”
The Senegalese Minister, for his part, reaffirmed that the economies of the sea and the protection of the sea, in addition to “the management and exploitation of ports,” are aspects of the economies of the two nations that had to be developed further.
“Senegal welcomes the experience that Portugal has in this sector and wants to make available to our country,” said Aissata Tall Sall. “Portugal wants to make its expertise in this sector available to our country.”
The Minister of Senegal sees “possible paths of cooperation” in training for the fisheries and marine sector as well as “in tourism, in tourism and hotel training.” She emphasizes that her country wants a “wider and more intense” engagement with Portugal.
During their discussion this morning, the two ministers also discussed the potential visit to Portugal by the President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall. This trip, which would be the second visit by a head of state from Senegal and would come six years after the first, would take place in June and would be the second time a Senegalese leader has traveled to Portugal.