Brazil’s Undersecretary-General for South and Central America and the Caribbean, Ambassador Antonio Jose Ferreira Simoes will push for deeper integration between his country and Guyana during his one-day visit here today with a focus on energy, trade and tourism.
Prior to his arrival, Simoes spoke of the Takutu Bridge, saying it will bring development to both sides of the border and he declared that concrete benefits are already being felt in Lethem and Bon Fim.
But he also spoke of going beyond bi-lateral relations and expanding on regional cooperation, contending that the negotiations of a free trade agreement between CARICOM and MERCOSUR will provide for a win-win situation for both regional groupings.
The Takutu Bridge was the first of many political, economic and social bridges that are now being put in place between the two countries, the Ambassador said in a statement earlier this week, adding that the significance of the changes now being realized cannot be underestimated. “We are building the bridges that will make possible not only the integration of Brazil and Guyana, but also of the whole South America,” he stated.
On the Takutu Bridge, he added that it offers new and promising opportunities for Brazil and Guyana, noting that the increased passenger and cargo transport will lead to an intensification of trade and tourism. He recalled that the establishment of a special regime to facilitate trade and transportation between Bon Fim and Lethem was the main goal of one of the agreements signed during the inauguration of the structure.
Brazil and Guyana are working towards simplifying procedures and harmonizing laws to take better advantage of these opportunities, Simoes said, and he also pointed out that it is also important to strengthen and diversify the bilateral technical cooperation programme, under which five projects are currently being implemented. He cited agriculture as the main area for diversification.
He said too that improving and paving the road that begins at the bridge- the Lethem-Linden road is another challenge. Simoes added that this would allow both countries to complete the land connection between Boa Vista and Georgetown, with “remarkable benefits not only for bilateral relations but also for the development of Guyana’s hinterland.”
Simoes opined there is much to be done also at the regional level and he noted that Guyana can rely on Brazil’s wholehearted support during its Chairmanship of UNASUR. According to him, this experience will help to reinforce the participation of Guyana in South America and provide useful tools for Guyana’s sustainable development.
With respect to the integration efforts, he stressed that the people of both countries are the main beneficiaries and not only the business sectors. Further, he noted that another area which can be boosted is the teaching of Portuguese; he defined this as one of strategic importance as a means of broadening cooperation.
He said too that besides the regular Portuguese language courses at the Guyana-Brazil Cultural Centre, Brazil may soon have specific courses being offered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Guyana Revenue Authority, building upon the successful example of such work with the Guyana Defence Force. “There is still work to be done. As President Lula said.
We need energy to accomplish the existent potential of cooperation and investment,” he added, citing this as a reason why Brazil is interested in participating in the construction of a hydroelectric plant that will generate cleaner and cheaper energy for Guyana and make possible the interconnection of the electrical supplies of both countries.
