Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Clement Rohee announced at a news conference held on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the agreement was signed during his recent visit to Brazil as part of the lobbying delegation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

Rohee said that as soon as the requisite legislation and legal orders come into effect on both sides of the border, the very important road link will be recognised as an international highway and will facilitate the unhindered movement of goods and people to and from the neighbours.

At present, this movement is restricted because of the regulations existing in Brazil. The conclusion of the agreement will see those restrictions and legal hindrances removed, the Minister said.

"While in Brazil, I took the opportunity to sign the International Road Transport Agreement on the movement of passengers and goods between Brazil and Guyana. This is a very important agreement because it is linked to the road between Guyana and Brazil, and the construction of the bridge across the Takutu River. In other words, as the situation stands now, goods and passengers moving on that road will not be granted certain benefits and certain rights until this agreement is really put in place. The agreement is the first step. The next step is for the subject minister, namely the Home Affairs Minister to issue a number of orders to ensure that the implementation of this agreement is in place," Rohee reported.

Director of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Donald Abrams said the agreement would pave the way for normalising and regularising trade between the two neighbours, bringing to an end the illegal trading activities that currently exists along the border.

The agreement should also be seen in the context of the decision taken by South American Presidents last year to build greater infrastructure on the continent to facilitate intensified integration of economic and trade expansion, he added.

When the Takutu Bridge and the road are completed, they would also facilitate links with Suriname and this would further expand trade links, Abrams opined.