PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller will be one of the featured speakers at the Second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the African Diaspora, being held in Brazil.

The conference, which opens today and runs until July 14, is being held under the theme ‘The Diaspora and the African Renaissance’.

The conference is organised by the Brazilian government in partnership with the African Union and will be attended by intellectuals, political leaders and persons from civil society.

Simpson Miller, according to Jamaica House, is scheduled to address the conference’s Presidential Round Table on the topic ‘The Diaspora and the African Renaissance: Past Contributions and Current Project’.

Other speakers will include President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the presidents of Botswana, Cape Verde, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

Vice-President of Tanzania Dr Ali Mohammed Shein and the chairperson of the African Union are also scheduled to address the Presidential round table.

While in Brazil, Simpson Miller is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Lula on a range of issues, which will include co-operation on the use of ethanol for fuel and other sources of renewable energy, Jamaica House said.

Simpson Miller, who left the island Monday, will return on Saturday. During her absence, Robert Pickersgill, the minister of housing, transport, water and works, will be in charge of the government.