Brazilian businesses willing to accept Guyanese products
-- says visiting commerce president
by Shirwin Campbell
Guyana Chronicle
November 14, 2003
The Brazil and Guyana Chambers of Commerce met yesterday for a briefing on a number of issues including trade relations, the road currently under construction and the setting up of Consulates in Lethem, Sao Paul and Rio de Janeiro among other issues.
President of the Official International Chamber of Commerce Brazil Ms. Regina Macedo, who led the Brazilian team, spoke to the media through an interpreter.
She gave the assurance that Brazilian businesses are eager to trade with Guyana and to accept Guyanese products and explained that the mission's intention is to get a feel of the interest in trade by the Guyanese business community and also to examine ways of further expanding trade between the two South American neighbours.
She also promised to examine the trade barriers and any other obstacles and eradicate any that is detected.
According to Ms Macdeo she has made a commitment to many Brazilian firms to seek out trade opportunities in Guyana.
Mr. Geoffery Da Silvia, Head of Go Invest stated that the initiative to establish the Brazil CARICOM Chambers of Commerce and the Brazil Guyana Chambers of Commerce is the result of two years of work.
He explained that the chamber has over three hundred members, and since Monday when the Brazilian team arrived in Guyana they have been working feverishly to clear the channels for smoother business transactions.
Several meetings were held with numerous organizations including CARICOM and they are serious about accessing the CARICOM market through Guyana establishing alliances with Guyanese companies to move into the CARICOM market in a bigger way, he noted.
The group coming from Sao Paulo Rio is significant for Guyana since this is heart of the Industrial and manufacturing region of Brazil.
According to Mr. Da Silvia, the relationships Guyana built up over the last three years are with Manaus and Boa Vista and Sao Paulo Rio is another positive mark up for the country.
We have had visiting delegations and we are seeing less talk and more action on the ground, he said.
Macedo is known for getting things done and her presence here is to ensure certain things are put in place, he also pointed out
President of the Guyana Chambers of Commerce Edward Boyer stated that Brazil is one of Guyana's main border countries and trade and other sectors with that country is expected to grow with the completion of the Guyana Brazil road, the completion of the Takatu bridge and the dredging of a deep water port in Guyana, to accommodate larger vessels coming for rice.