Lisbon, May 13, 2026 (Lusa) - The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau, Federico Bianchi, said that the institution had invested more than €700 million in development programmes over the course of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two parties.
Bianchi shared this information with journalists on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the opening of a seminar analysing the results of a comparative study of the value chains for cashews, mangoes, rice and fisheries, sectors that have received EU funding in Guinea-Bissau.
The EU funding has been channelled particularly into the infrastructure, education, health and agriculture sectors, the four areas of the economy that directly involve a large part of the Guinea-Bissau public, he said.
He also said that cashews, mangoes, rice and fisheries are strategic sectors for Guinea-Bissau's economy, and that the partnership in the fisheries sector constituted the EU's third most important agreement worldwide.
The latest agreement in force, signed between the EU and Guinea-Bissau in the fisheries sector, provides for the injection of €100 million into Guinea-Bissau's state coffers over five years, as compensation for European fishing vessels operating in the country.
Looking ahead, he said the Union would continue to support Guinea-Bissau and its people in their development.
The two-day seminar, which began on Tuesday, brought together representatives from public institutions, international organisations, producer organisations, universities, research centres, civil society organisations, and technical and financial partners at a hotel in Bissau.
Regarding the meeting, which also involved representatives from Guinea-Bissau's private sector, Bianchi said it aims to ensure the sustainability of EU-funded projects, in line with the commitment to support sustainable transformation in the country.
*** Lusa news agency’s bureau in Guinea-Bissau has been suspended since August following the government’s expulsion of representatives from the Portuguese media. Coverage is being provided remotely *** HFI/MYAL // ADB.
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