PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo returned home yesterday from his two-day state visit to Suriname saying it was "productive and successful."

At a news conference at the Skeldon Estate Staff Club shortly after landing at the Skeldon airstrip, Berbice, the President said he was warmly received in Suriname and had discussions with a wide cross-section of the Surinamese community.

He reported that agreement was reached on setting up a mechanism to work on the modalities and practical implementation for joint hydrocarbon (petroleum) exploration in the border areas of the two countries.

The joint communique he and Suriname President Ronald Venetiaan signed at the end of the visit, states:

"At the request of President Jagdeo the issue of joint exploration of hydrocarbon resources was discussed, and the presidents took the decision to request the Border Commission to look at best practices and modalities that could assist the Governments in the taking of a decision regarding an eventual joint exploration.

"It was agreed that a sub-committee of the joint Suriname/Guyana Border Commission should be established to address this issue and to report to this Commission before its meeting in May."

Apart from the discussions with President Venetiaan on the border issue and the proposed joint exploration of mineral resources, President Jagdeo said he held fruitful talks with the Suriname private sector, during which he outlined the investment climate, policies and opportunities in Guyana.

He said the Surinamese expressed a genuine interest in developing closer links with their Guyanese counterparts and to increase trade and investment between the two neighbours.

In this respect, the overwhelming view among the Surinamese business community is that there should be movement in this direction "faster than later", he said.

President Jagdeo also addressed the Suriname National Assembly where he said he advocated cooperation rather than conflicts.

"Conflicts only waste resources," the President noted.

However, he emphasised that while urging a cooperative bilateral spirit he made it clear this will not be at the expense of compromising Guyana's borders.

The President, noting that the two neighbours are the only Caribbean Community (CARICOM) members that share common land borders, urged that the process to establish closer ties in the movement of people, goods and capital be accelerated within the framework of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

"We should accelerate the integration process within the framework of the revived Treaty of Chauguramas," he said.

There was also agreement to coordinate policies within the agricultural sector, especially in the marketing of rice, where there is an increasingly hostile environment, he said.

The President said there are not enough contacts at the technical level to address the issue of competitiveness, quality and marketing not only for rice but other commodities as well.

Closer collaboration in eco-tourism was another area agreed upon.

President Jagdeo pointed out that Guyana and Suriname are the only CARICOM countries that could offer a true eco-tourism product and added, "it will serve us well to work together to let the world understand that within CARICOM there is another product that is offered, apart from the sun, sand and sea."

He also met the Guyanese community in Suriname and out of those discussions the possibility of establishing a Guyana Consulate in Nickerie is being examined to alleviate the difficulties being experienced by them.

Nickerie has a large Guyanese community and the President said they told him of the difficulties involved in having to travel to Paramaribo, the Suriname capital, to process travel documents and for other relevant business.

Agreements between the two countries were also reached for closer cooperation to tackle cross-border smuggling, narco-trafficking, money laundering and other illegal activities, the President announced.

He, however, made it clear that while he supports simplifying and making movement of goods across the border less bureaucratic, that should not mean the relevant duties must be evaded or waived.