Brazil and Cuba sign cooperation agreements in several sectors

During the visit to Cuba of the President of the Republic, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the ministers who were part of the delegation signed cooperation agreements. These agreements should, according to the government, "increase the exchange of technology between the two countries."

The memoranda of cooperation cover the areas of health, science and technology, as well as agricultural development, as reported by Brasil 247, a partner of TV BRICS.

In the health sector, a cooperation protocol was signed that provides for the exchange of technology and knowledge on topics such as chronic diseases, vaccines, biotechnology and biodiversity, infectious diseases. The development of innovative products is also provided for.

"The importance of this agreement is that Brazil benefits from the latest knowledge that Cuba has developed. To this joint development, Brazil brings its expertise in clinical research and its ability to produce products on a large scale, both in public and private laboratories," explained Health Minister Nisia Trindade.

The document also ratifies the association of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and Biocubafarma. This association will ensure the transfer of technology for national production - an innovative drug used to slow the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and erythropoietin used in the treatment of anaemia caused by kidney failure, leukaemia and other diseases.

The agreement also allows for the development of mutual assistance policies on health regulations for the approval and commercialisation of drugs, medical devices, vaccines and other technologies.

In the area of science and technology, the main point of the agreement relates to the reactivation of the Brazil-Cuba Steering Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation. The committee is scheduled to meet again within 60 days to discuss scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries, prioritising biotechnology, bioeconomy, bioprocessing, bioproduction, renewable energy, agricultural sciences, sovereignty, food security, climate, sustainable development, education and research networks.

"We want to resume work not only in the industrial health complex, but also in other, broader areas such as the bioeconomy. This is a cooperation where we learn and offer our experience, we find common solutions for Brazil and Cuba," said Brazil's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos.

In the field of agroindustrial complex, the Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira, signed an agreement with the Cuban government to create an agricultural cooperation programme that covers the areas of crop production, livestock, agro-industry, land management, and also addresses food sovereignty and food security.

On 16 September, following the G77 + China Heads of State and Government Summit, Lula held a bilateral meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. This was the third meeting between the two presidents this year. It was also the first official trip by a Brazilian president to a Caribbean country in nine years.