Brazil, Guyana sign road transport pact
Stabroek News
February 11, 2003
Guyana and Brazil have signed a long awaited international road transport agreement which will smooth the way for increased trade and tourism between the two countries.
Minister of Foreign Trade and International Co-operation Clement Rohee said yesterday at a press conference that the agreement which he signed with his Brazilian counterpart on February 7 in Brasilia, would become a reality when the Minister of Home Affairs issues orders to bring the agreement into effect.
These orders would be for the implementation of a number of administrative features at the ports of entry and departure, such as offices for customs and immigration and security on both sides of the Guyana/Brazil border.
Director of the Economic Affairs Department in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Donald Abrams said the signing made the Guyana/Brazil road an international highway linking both Guyana and neighbouring Suriname to the South American and MERCOSUR markets as well as legalising trade.
He noted that limited trade had been taking place between the two countries which was more or less illegal. Previously trade was only done on a border basis.
The signing of the agreement will also give impetus to the completion of the Takutu bridge halted in the middle of last year.
The agreement was part of a larger commitment between the heads of South American countries who met in Brazil in June under the chairmanship of then Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso to lay the infrastructure for economic co-operation on the South American continent. Previously the agreement being negotiated was for border trade but was upgraded to an international road agreement. (Miranda La Rose)
