Portugal and the World Bank have signed a technical cooperation memorandum with the primary aim of mobilizing national experts for technical assistance actions in Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) and East Timor.

"This memorandum will allow the mobilization of national experts for the Bank's technical assistance projects in partner countries, especially Portuguese-speaking countries, in four areas of intervention with strategic value for both parties: water and sanitation, environment, e-government and blue economy," reads a note published on the Camões Institute website, quoted by Lusa.

The document states that "the maritime economy includes ocean literacy, ocean science, sustainable aquaculture, blue digitalization, blue innovation, cluster strategy and port digitalization".

The memorandum was signed on Thursday by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco André, by the president of Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, João Ribeiro de Almeida, and by Jacob Kopperud and Penelope Lewis, from the World Bank's offices in Paris and Rome, respectively.

The document marks "the deepening of their joint agenda for the development of partner countries in the Global South," the statement said.

"This is the first initiative of its kind to be carried out with the World Bank and will help to promote Portuguese Cooperation's work with its strategic partners, especially Portuguese-speaking African countries and East Timor," according to the government.