Brasília, 4/28/2004 (Agência Brasil) – The creation of a Brazil-Africa Parliamentary Group in the Chamber of Deputies is intended to strengthen ties between that continent and Brazilian foreign policy. According to the architect behind the group, deputy Gilmar Machado (PT/MG), "Brazil needs the support of African nations in multilateral forums, such as the UN and the World Trade Organization."

At the ceremony that inaugurated the group the tenth anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa was remembered.

The idea is for the group to work on six bilateral fronts with chambers that already exist in Angola, Libya, Tunisia, Moroccos, South Africa and Guine Bissau, and to establish ties with the rest of the continent. "The group will unify activities that already exist and bring together embassies and representatives of all African nations. It will work with the business community, students and investors," declared deputy Machado, adding that the main areas of activity will be education, health and commerce.

At the moment, Brazil sends teachers and educational material to Africa and provides African students with scholarships to study in Brazilian universities. At the same time, the Ministry of Education is working on changes in the history curriculum in Brazilian schools. "We are beginning to tell the history of Blacks in our country through the eyes of Africans," says Machado.

In the health area, Brazil's biggest contribution has been in the fight against AIDS and other tropical diseases. Brazil provides low-cost generic drugs to African nations and trains African healthcare workers in prevention and treatment.

Machado says the counterpart lies in great investment and employee opportunities in Africa for Brazilian businessmen and workers.

Translator: Allen Bennett