THE PRESIDENT OF Mozambique has been welcomed to Ireland today for a three day state visit.
Armando Emílio Guebuza was invited by President Michael D. Higgins.
This is the first visit from a south African country during President Higgins’ time in office.
The State Visit commenced with a formal welcome ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin when President Guebuza was greeted by the President and Sabina Higgins.
Pupils from Ladywell National School in Mulhuddart greeted the international guest.
A meeting between the Heads of State is taking place after the formal welcome ceremony.
Tomorrow
On Wednesday President Guebuza will meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.
He will also lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance and visit the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks and St James’s Hospital before attending a State Dinner in his honour at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Thursday & Friday
On Thursday the President will have a programme of business and education meetings, including the Mozambique-Ireland Business Forum and on Friday he will visit Newgrange in Meath before departing Dublin.
The visit will include the signing of agreements between Ireland and Mozambique across a range of areas including agriculture, health, education, development and trade.
Foreign Affairs
Mozambique is experiencing economic growth with the IMF describing it recently as one of the most dynamic economies in sub-saharan Africa.
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, said:
The gains of the last decade, during which many countries in sub-Saharan Africa saw sustained high rates of economic growth and an impressive reduction in poverty, have been nothing short of remarkable.
As a programme country, Irish Aid will be spending €36 million this year which will be aimed at making progress towards achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.
“Specifically, the programmes are aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability; improving health and learning outcomes and increasing accountability to citizens for the population of Mozambique”.
He added that:
While Mozambique has a rapidly expanding economy in recent years, it remains one of the world’s poorest countries.
“The Committee will have an opportunity to engage with Minister Baloi on the policies that are in place to ensure that the dividends from the resource boom anticipated in the coming years will filter through to the most vulnerable in Mozambican society”.
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