Guyana and Brazil held bilateral talks on Thursday during a working visit by Brazil’s Minister of External Relations, Ernesto Araújo, to Georgetown.
The meeting was held at the Pegasus Hotel, in Kingston Georgetown, where the two sides reviewed the existing programme of cooperation between Guyana and Brazil and agreed to the implementation of a number of measures aimed at expanding and strengthening collaboration at the bilateral and regional levels.
In a joint statement following the frank exchanges, it was noted that Guyana and Brazil agreed on modalities for advancing the cooperation agenda in the areas of infrastructure, trade and investment, health, agriculture, energy, tourism and security.
Among the decisions taken was to resume discussions on the completion of the Guyana-Brazil road project as well as of the implementation of the International Road Transport Agreement.
Guyana and Brazil also agreed to advance discussions on energy cooperation, including environmental aspects, through the exchange of technical missions and information.
Additionally, a decision was taken to pursue greater collaboration between the health officials as both states continue to grapple with the ill effects of COVID-19.
They will now move to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the “Technical Feasibility Studies for the Installation of Optical Network from Boa Vista, Brazil to Georgetown, Guyana”, signed during the visit while recognizing the importance of establishing digital connectivity infrastructure between the two countries.
“To intensify collaboration in the area of security and the fight against illicit activities and organized crime through the exchange of information and expertise. To this end, the two sides signed the International Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Federal Police of the Federative Republic of Brazil” the statement added.
Guyana and Brazil intend to increase collaboration in agricultural matters, including technical cooperation in pest and disease management, as exemplified by the ongoing joint Carambola Fruit Fly (CFF) monitoring activities.
It is expected that there will be the convening of a meeting of the Guyana/Brazil Group on Consular Cooperation in Georgetown in January 2021.
The two sides will also convene a Technical Committee Meeting, under the aegis of the Partial Scope Agreement, with a view to expanding trade and investment; and to continue political coordination and dialogue on regional issues, with an emphasis on the promotion of democracy and shared prosperity.
The Brazil Minister was accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of External Relations and the Federal Police of Brazil.
During the visit, the Minister and delegation met with President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd as well as the Attorney General and the Ministers of Agriculture, Public Works, and Home Affairs.
The two sides also discussed the impending visit by Jair Bolsonaro, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, to Guyana which is anticipated to take place in the New Year.
Guyana and Brazil established diplomatic relations on August 26, 1968. The cooperation covers a broad range of areas including trade, health, agriculture, transport and security matters.
