… as Brazil celebrates 191st anniversary
Enhanced economical commitments were made last evening as Guyana paid tribute to Brazil on the occasion of its 191st anniversary as an independent nation.
President Donald Ramotar pledged enhanced economic trade and social relations between Guyana and Brazil, during a cocktail reception, hosted at the Brazilian Ambassador’s residence, Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.
“We pay tribute to all the sacrifices made by the many generations who struggled and resolved to provide a firm foundation of this great nation.”
President Ramotar and the Brazilian Military attache and staff at the reception
President Ramotar noted that in Guyana’s efforts to secure prosperity and improved quality of life in for its people, the Government has embarked on a number of initiatives to create new job opportunities and promote development in key sectors, especially in health, education agriculture and infrastructural development.
Citing the collaborative efforts between the two countries, the President “welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on infrastructural projects” last July.
This mechanism provided the framework for joint collaboration of the Hydro power resources, the upgrade of Lethem Linden and the development of the deep water port in Guyana.
“We encourage greater Brazilian investment in economic and social sectors of our country…We know that the anticipated development will not happen like a change in the weather it is a process and through determined actions and firm commitment not only on the part of the Government but by the people of our country we will achieve great heights”
He underscored that Government is also seeking to develop more focused cooperation programmes and other traditional partnerships with more active policies of likeminded countries.
“We have already witnessed positive results in the case of Brazil we have made significant advances especially in a wide range of areas. This increased level of cooperation and contact which we have witnessed is a demonstration with which we view our relations.
“It is envisaged that the enhancement of the Guyana/Brazil partnership will increase the prosperity of its people and benefit the region as a whole.”
Guyana and Brazil are members of UNASUR (the Union of South American Nations) and most recently in MERCOSUR.
Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Luiz Seixas DeAndrade, said that the Brazilian Government intends to pursue measures to remove the barriers that impede Guyanese exports across the border.
According to the Brazilian Ambassador the joint commission between the two countries will open new avenues for Brazilian companies to invest in potential projects of Guyana with realistic perspective of taking economic and trade relations to higher levels.
“Technical cooperation has been provided to look at the training of Guyanese technicians, to look at sanitary certification. This will allow for the sale of value added quality Guyanese food and drinks to Brazil.”
The opening of the Takutu River Bridge has boosted communication linkages between the two countries resulting in an influx of Brazilian entrepreneurs within Guyana’s economic sector, the Ambassador said.
Earlier this year, Guyana and Brazil had a third meeting of the joint commission of the group on consular cooperation, police cooperation and drugs and the fourth bilateral meeting.
The two South American countries have also been implementing together cooperation in a number of technical areas of aquaculture, corn, soybean and rice.
Cooperation between Guyana and Brazil has also been very fruitful in the military area, resulting in the visit of the Brazilian Minister of Defence, Celso Amorim.