BISSAU, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Transitional Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau Ilidio Vieira Te said Wednesday that the country should promote local cashew processing to strengthen its economy and increase household incomes.
The prime minister made the remarks in Bissau at a ceremony for the swearing-in of members of the organizing committee for a roundtable on sustainable financing of the cashew value chain, scheduled for November this year.
Te stressed that "cashew is one of the pillars of the national economy and an important source of income for thousands of families, particularly in rural areas." He said that the key task is to build a more modern and productive value chain capable of generating more income domestically.
The prime minister called for the establishment of accessible, transparent and sustainable financing mechanisms covering the entire value chain, from production and marketing to transportation to domestic and international markets.
He added that the initiative would promote cooperation among the government, private sector, financial institutions, producers and development partners.
According to the government, the roundtable aims to help transform the development model of a sector vital to the national economy and further strengthen its contribution to education, healthcare and employment.
Guinea-Bissau is among the world's major exporters of raw cashew nuts, which are the country's main export product. The country exported about 210,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in 2025, with Asian markets being the main destinations. ■