President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent visit to Brazil centred on talks to create an economic corridor between the two countries with high tech and agricultural dimensions.

Jagdeo arrived in Brazil on Friday for a four-day visit accompanied by the Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Anthony Xavier and Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana Ney do Prado Dieguez.

According to a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), the discussions centred on the implementation of a corridor between Boa Vista and Guyana. The project does not only cover the establishment of the road but also focuses on the creation of industries, plantation-type agriculture, a fibre optic cable connection between the two countries and electricity.

Jagdeo used the opportunity to say that Brazilians were welcome to settle in Guyana, stating that they would have to work within the provisions of the law. He and his team met the Governor and officials of the State of Roraima and were taken on a tour of several facilities for a first-hand look at locally grown produce including soya bean, corn, sunflower and grass used to feed cattle and other livestock. They also visited the Tambaqui farm, where fish are being reared, and the Melamazonia honey factory.

Jagdeo said that the purpose of the visit was to learn from experiences in tackling problems in the field of agriculture, since the two countries were alike in terms of soil type, terrain and weather. It is hoped that these techniques will be applied to the Intermediate Savannahs and other areas with similar soil types.

Jagdeo told Guyanese living in Brazil to form an association and if they need assistance, he was willing to help.