Havana, 15 August 2026. — Cuba’s Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment, Armando Rodríguez Batista, welcomed Professor Bonginkosi Emmanuel Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. A loyal friend who cherishes memories of the moments he shared with Fidel and of his work alongside Mandela. They reviewed the strong state of collaboration in science and innovation, which we have been promoting since 2025, in areas such as energy, nanoscience and biotechnology.
The South African minister’s itinerary in Cuba included visits to research centres such as the Institute of Meteorology, the Cubaenergía Agency, the Cuban Centre for Neurosciences and other BioCubaFarma entities. Cuban scientists will soon visit their South African counterparts to further deepen this cooperation. Blade congratulated his Cuban counterpart on the General Law on Science, Technology and Innovation and on the determination he observed in each of our institutions to press ahead despite the difficulties.
(Cuban Embassy in South Africa)