Guyana and Antigua & Barbuda sign MOU on economic cooperation
The Governments of Guyana and Antigua, and Barbuda signed a Memorandum of Understanding, providing for economic cooperation in eight areas, including tourism, financial services, agriculture, air transportation and energy.
The Memorandum was signed at State House in Georgetown by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali and Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne.
The two leaders observed that the Memorandum is another step in the many collaborative efforts in which Antigua and Barbuda, and Guyana have been involved since the governments of the two countries, along with Barbados, launched the Caribbean Free Trade Agreement at Dickenson Bay in Antigua in 1965.
Recalling that Antigua and Barbuda have been home to a significant number of the Guyanese diaspora for decades, President Ali remarked that there is every basis for the strengthening of economic relations between the two countries, bringing benefits to their people.
“This agreement will open opportunities for the private sectors of both countries in several sectors, including tourism in which Antigua and Barbuda is regarded as a world leader”, said Prime Minister Browne.
He added that financial institutions would also be able to cooperate in expanding the range of services offered to their clients.
On regional air transportation, President Ali noted that carrier was identified by CARICOM Heads of Government, who attended the Agri-Invest Forum in Guyana this week as “an important factor in achieving food security in the Caribbean”.
“Therefore, we will closely examine the possibility of collaborating with Antigua and Barbuda to provide air transportation as an important element in moving produce from Guyana to other parts of the region”.
The two leaders will establish a Working Group by June 7 with a mandate to examine and make recommendations on ways to implement the areas of cooperation as early as possible.
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