Brussels, 10 February2022/OACPS: Secretary-General of the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific States (OACPS), H.E. Mr Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti conducted a mission to France from 3-5 February 2022, on the invitation of the French Presidency of the European Council. During his mission, the Secretary-General also met with a delegation led by H.E. Mrs Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the Organisation de la Francophonie (OIF), M. Christian Yoka, director of the Africa Department of the Agence francaise de developpement (AFD), and M. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The exchanges with Mr Michel Miraillet, Director General of the Directorate General for Globalisation, Culture, Education and International Development of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs addressed a number of key issues, such as the signing of the new OACPS-EU Partnership Agreement, the African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit, cooperation with the EU on the international scene, Global Europe-NDICI and its challenges for Members of the OACPS, and the political situation in Members of the OACPS.

With the OIF, the OACPS agreed to strengthen and expand its collaboration, including inviting representatives of the two organisations to their respective Summits.

The discussions with the Agence francaise de developpement (AFD) were productive. Among the issues under discussion were notably, the diversification of the economies of Members of the OACPS, post Covid-19 recovery, and collaboration on the development of priorities for investment.

During the meeting with the OECD, the Secretaries-General exchanaged over, inter alia, the challenges facing small island developing states (SIDS), development priorities of Members of the OACPS, and the strengthening of OACPS-OECD relations. In this regard, the OACPS will set in motion the process to request observer status with the OECD.

Photo: H.E. Mr Chikoti and H.E. Mrs Louise Mushikiwabo.