Guyana, Venezuela set up joint business council
CONCRETE steps aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between Guyana and Venezuela dominated discussions between Presidents Janet Jagan and Rafael Caldera in Caracas yesterday. President Jagan has also been conferred with the neighbouring country's highest award to foreign dignitaries - the Order of the Liberator, Simon Bolivar, by President Caldera. She and an accompanying 21-member Government and private sector delegation continued a two-day visit yesterday, after arriving Tuesday to a red carpet welcome. The two Presidents also held an hour-long meeting yesterday, underscoring the need for closer ties and dialogue to establish lasting and firm relations, a report from the delegation said. As they continued to emphasise this, the private sector of each country was seeking ways to take advantage of the existing cordial relations. On Tuesday, just after President Jagan had called for a joint business council while addressing the Venezuelan Federation Chamber of Commerce, business magnate, Mr. Yesu Persaud who heads the local Private Sector Commission, and his 14-member business delegation and the Venezuelans agreed to appoint a joint six-man committee as a start to a more structured engagement between the two sides. Guyanese businessmen, Mr. Mervyn Wray and Mr. Stanford Solomon joined the Guyana team in Caracas late Tuesday. The Guyana business team held several rounds of talks and Persaud, reviewing these yesterday morning, was satisfied that "much progress" would have been made during the visit, the report said. His optimism was justified when a few minutes later at a meeting with President of Banco de Commercio Exterior (Foreign Trade Bank), Dr Alfredo Conzalez Amare agreed to send a trade mission to Guyana as soon as the necessary preparations could be made. The visit could be in November. Amare said his bank had developed the strategy of "trade crusades" which brought tangible results with foreign countries, including those in the Caribbean. He said now that the leaders of the two countries had agreed that their respective roles were to create and promote closer relations, the idea could be explored with Guyanese. President Jagan welcomed the idea of an early trade mission and extended an invitation to Amare to visit Guyana. To start the ball rolling, Banco de Commercio Exterior organised round table talks with the Guyanese private sector representatives yesterday. Delegation member, Mr. Vickram Oudit was pleased with the results of the discussions and noted the "potential for further success in trade in goods and services is great". Later yesterday, the Guyanese visitors met officials of the Venezuelan Investment Fund and explored possibilities of funding projects in Guyana. It was agreed that a special mission should visit Guyana as part of the two countries' continuing economic cooperation agreements. The Guyanese also met officials of the state-owned Petroles de Venezuela (Petroleum Company of Venezuela), including the Minister of Mines of Venezuela. President Jagan, addressing the Venezuelan business sector, said that governments "cannot manage the trade liberalisation process in isolation" and that the "private sectors and indeed, the business communities, have crucial roles to play." "To a great extent, our future collaboration would hinge on trade and investment. Guyana is endowed with an abundance of natural resources which require the presence of investors to explore and exploit in partnership with our own entrepreneurs. "We would have to carefully identify those areas for joint ventures with an eye to satisfying our domestic, as well as external markets. This form of collaboration between our business communities should be placed very high on our bilateral and investment agenda". Several members of the visiting team met Venezuelan officials for discussions, including Fisheries Minister, Mr. Satyadeow Sawh who explored possibilities of closer cooperation with his counterpart. Adviser on Science and Technology to the President, Mr. Navin Chandarpal met environmental experts and discussed related issues and areas of cooperation which could be beneficial to both countries. Police Commissioner, Mr. Laurie Lewis held talks with several senior Venezuelan officials on the fight against the illegal drug trade. They revisited previous relevant agreements, which they agreed to give effect to soon. The pacts cover more frequent meetings between the sides, direct help to the Guyana Police Force in the form of equipment, and training of dogs and handlers. Lewis also addressed a group of students, including personnel from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Defence Force who are attending an anti-drug training programme in Caracas. The Venezuelan side has offered local Police a number of six-month and one-year scholarships under the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry. Yesterday afternoon, President Jagan visited the Museum of Contemporary Art and the President of the Systems of Infant and Juvenile Orchestras. Last evening, she was due to host a reception in honour of President Caldera and meet the Guyanese community at the Guyana Embassy in Caracas. 
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