Seychelles and Brazil explore synergies to bolster agricultural sector |30 October 2023

Ambassador Martins Nogueira in discussion with Minister Joubert

The newly appointed Brazilian ambassador to Seychelles, Gustavo Martins Nogueira, recently met with the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change & Environment, Flavien Joubert.

Their discussion, which centered on the development of a bilateral agreement and investment in technical training to bolster the agricultural sector, showcased the shared commitment of both parties towards sustainable development and climate resilience.

Minister Joubert extended his congratulations to Ambassador Martins Nogueira on his accreditation and expressed a keen interest in exploring mutual initiatives to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change.

Noting the similarities in climate zones between Seychelles and Brazil, Minister Joubert

emphasised the critical need for collaborative efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and foster sustainable agricultural practices.

Ambassador Martins Nogueira, in response, pledged Brazil's support in enhancing the capacity of livestock technicians through the utilisation of modern tools and innovative techniques.

He declared that livestock technicians must have the capacity to implement livestock programmes, which would ultimately contribute to elevating the level of local production and fostering food security.

The dialogue further delved into the significance of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) as a tool for assessing and addressing vulnerabilities of small island developing states as they rely on external financing to help prepare and recover from crises.

Both parties acknowledged the relevance of the MVI in guiding policy formulation and resource allocation for the most vulnerable segments of the population, particularly in the context of climate change.

Additionally, the impending Conference of the Parties (COP28) served as a focal point of the discussion, with both Minister Joubert and Ambassador Martins Nogueira expressing their shared commitment to addressing global climate challenges.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to exploring concrete measures for the

implementation of the discussed initiatives, thus paving the way for a robust partnership between Brazil and Seychelles in the agricultural sector. The shared vision of promoting sustainable agricultural development, capacity building, and climate resilience laid the foundation for a promising collaborative journey ahead.

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