Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Cabo Verde, 20^th September 202. Taking advantage of her being in Cabo Verde for the 8^th Annual Meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Animal Health Networks (RAHN), the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Ms MassandjeTouré-Litsé, paid a courtesy call to the Minister for Agriculture and Environment of Cabo Verde, Dr. Gilberto Silva, on 20^th September 2022. She was accompanied by the Executive Director of the Regional Animal Health Centre, Dr. Vivian Iwar and the Resident Representative of the ECOWAS Commission in Cabo Verde, Dr. Samuel Lamptey.

Commissioner Massandje -Touré introduced herself to the authorities of the Ministry and assured the Minister of her commitment to continue the work undertaken by her predecessor with the support of Cabo Verde. Among other topics of common interest discussed by the two leaders, Minister Silva emphasised the wish that the ECOWAS Commission takes more into account the specific island nature of Cabo Verde in all development initiatives it undertakes at both regional and national levels. For him, Cabo Verde remains a potential in terms of economic and commercial exchanges for the ECOWAS region despite the big challenge of mobilising drinking water, water for agriculture, livestock, and development in general.

Strengthening integration and relationships with Cabo Verde, through relevant projects (water desalination project for example) will enable the country to consolidate its desire to produce more vegetables, fruit, animal, and agricultural products while positioning itself as a country of services and tourism.