Lula's climate summit visit to reset Brazil-Africa relations

Lula's welcome DRC visit?

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will visit the Democratic Republic of?Congo (DRC) on 25 August for a trilateral summit on?protecting the world's major tropical rainforests.

The Kinshasa event, also featuring Indonesia, marks another step in Brazil's return to climate diplomacy. Under Lula's immediate predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil was castigated for its deforestation of the Amazon.

The summit also marks a resumption of Lula's energetic African diplomacy. During his first two terms, from 2003 to 2010, Lula visited dozens of African countries; Bolsanaro visited none.

As well as vital talks on the Congo basin, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi says cooperation could extend to infrastructure, air transport, electricity and agriculture.

Lula's visit is therefore likely to be welcomed by Africa's politicians, businesses and rainforest communities alike.?

David Thomas, Editor, African Business

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The August/September issue of African Business, out now, examines Africa's enormous demand for?new housing.?

From increasing the availability of loans for homeowners to new plans to build homes cheaper, quicker, and more sustainably, can companies rise to the challenge?

We also analyse whether?privatising the Suez Canal?could help Egypt solve its economic crisis, look at the?growing role of agrifinance?in boosting agricultural production and consider?Africa's digital future.

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