Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Rudy Insanally, who represented Guyana at the talks, reported that the concept of Guyana being the gateway to the South has captured the interest of South American leaders.

Insanally, who returned from the meeting last Sunday night, noted that one of its primary concerns was linking South American countries through trade and infrastructure, especially road networks linking Uruguay, Bolivia and other countries on the Southern Coast.

The minister said the South American Presidents were very enthusiastic and supportive of the idea of Guyana being the link between South America and the rest of the world.

He added that the existing road link between Guyana and Brazil and the possibility of a coastal link with Venezuela were closely examined.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting notes the commitment of the Foreign Ministers of Guyana and Venezuela to establish a Technical Committee to examine a direct connection between both countries via a highway, which would complement the connection already provided for in the Guyana/Brazil/Suriname/Venezuela axis.

According to Insanally, a technical team is expected to visit Guyana to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of the Venezuela link.

"The mood now seems to be one of intensifying the integration efforts so as to allow the hemisphere to position itself globally," Insanally said.

He added that "the leaders are now prepared to give the long-thought-of regional integration a push."

At the meeting, the South American Presidents reiterated the importance of expanding and strengthening regional infrastructure as an essential factor for the integration of South America's economic space.

"The physical integration of the South American space will optimise the region's huge economic potential and its ability to compete by adding value to its natural resources," the communique noted.

The Presidents agreed to strengthen and deepen the South American integration movement by active policies to accelerate economic growth on a sustainable basis, reduce vulnerability to external factors, improve the distribution of wealth and decrease poverty levels in the region.

In September 2000, the Presidents developed an initiative for Regional Infrastructure Integration and in December of the same year agreed on the implementation of a Plan of Action based on the same initiative.

The plan identifies 162 transportation, energy and telecommunications projects aimed at strengthening infrastructural links on the continent.