Cuba pledges more help to Seychelles’ agricultural sector |19 December 2014

Cuban technical experts in different areas of the agricultural sector are expected here in the near future as per the terms of a cooperation agreement signed yesterday between Cuba and Seychelles.

The Cuban ambassador to Seychelles Orlando Alvarez Alvarez and Natural Resources Minister Peter Sinon signed the agreement in a short ceremony at Caravelle House.

Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam, the principal secretary for Natural Resources Michel Nalletamby, key officials from the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) and from the Cuban embassy witnessed the signing.

As per the newly signed framework agreement, more cooperation are expected in the agricultural and agri-food sector including aspects related to the primary production and its transformation into added value, growth and expansion of markets, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Speaking after the signing, Mr Alvarez Alvarez said cooperation between Cuba and Seychelles not only in the domain of agriculture but in different other areas has a very long history and “we want to keep it that way for many reasons”.

“Our relationship has been an example of relationships between small islands and we want to keep working together for the betterment of our two countries,” he said.

He said the signing of the agreement follows talks to strengthen cooperation in the agricultural sector Minister Sinon held with his Cuban counterpart and other related stakeholders when he visited Cuba last year.

Mr Alvarez Alvarez also said that as per the agreement the two countries can also learn from each other’s experiences in the sector and expressed the hope that their already strong relation will continue to grow.
 
He noted that Cuba already has Seychelles’ support in very important matters and in different areas.

It was on behalf of all farmers and stakeholders that Minister Sinon expressed sincere gratitude to Cuba for “a long-standing and very solid relationship that we have had over the years”.

Minister Sinon noted that the last Cuban expert in the livestock sector left only last year and as per the agreement, it is expected that more technical experts would soon return to impart their knowledge and skills to local farmers.

Minister Sinon also commended Cuba which, in spite of its challenges with regard to the long-standing US embargo, has succeeded in achieving great successes in developing its agricultural sector.

For his part Minister Adam congratulated ambassador Alvarez Alvarez and Minister Sinon for signing this “very meaningful agreement which connects in another way two people who have always been connected”.
 
“We believe in these connections which bring our people closer together, where we learn from each other’s expertise and experiences,” Minister Adam pointed out.  

Furthermore he noted that Cuba and Seychelles share remarkable similarities in terms of culture but also in terms of the challenges we face as islands.

“Even though Cuba is a bigger island, the challenges in terms of agriculture are in many ways similar to ours,” added Minister Adam.

He expressed the hope that the two countries will continue to build on their partnership through the signing of the agreement.

Echoing Minister Sinon’s words, Minister Adam also availed of the occasion to commend Cuba for all its successes in the agricultural sector and for being able to turn challenges into opportunities to build their capacity and become a leader in many areas in terms of innovation and agricultural technology.

Minister Adam also noted that one of Seychelles’ foreign policy priorities is to defend the interests of all island states and ensures big countries understand the specificities of islands.

Minister Adam said Seychelles welcomed the announcement on Wednesday by both US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raoul Castro that relations between the two countries have been normalised.

“We  see this as a great step forward and we also welcome the return of the Cuban Five to Cuba, a great step in resolving the ‘cold war’ issue between the two countries,” noted Minister Adam.

He said Seychelles has consistently echoed Cuba’s request that the five prisoners being held in the US be released and returned to Cuba and Seychelles is very pleased that as part of the normalisation process this has been achieved.

“But we also reiterate the calls for the embargo to be lifted as soon as possible,” added Minister Adam.