Brazil business group on trade visit
- expresses support for Guyana's access to EU sugar market
By Gitanjali Singh
Stabroek News
November 14, 2003
Officials of the recently formed Brazil/Guyana Chamber of Commerce, in Guyana to push trade between the two countries, have hinted they are willing to support Guyana's quest to maintain preferential access to the European sugar regime.
Brazil, the world's largest sugar producer, along with Australia and Thailand, is challenging the EU sugar- subsidies regime at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and a panel is to look into the dispute which could have implications for the future of that regime and Guyana's preferential access.
On the other hand, Brazilian businesses are increasingly seeking cheaper access to foreign markets and are pushing for two massive infrastructure projects in Guyana - the road through Lethem to the city and a deep-water harbour. But while Brazilian businesses stand to gain substantially by cheaper transportation costs through Guyana, the issue has now surfaced of Guyana losing out on the sugar front in Brazil's quest to gain further sugar markets.
Speaking with reporters through an interpreter yesterday, Regina Macedo, President of the Brazil/Guyana Chamber says from the little she knows of the issue, she senses that Brazilian businesses are willing to support Guyana's quest to maintain that sugar regime. She says there is need for dialogue for the businesses to get a better fix on the situation but it is definitely a subject that has to be looked at.
Macedo says she is in Guyana to get a better feel of the trade issues and barriers to trade between Guyana and Brazil, and intends to work with her Guyanese counterparts to ensure the implementation of the various agreements between the two countries including the transport and partial-scope agreements.
"I am really relying on the support of the Guyanese authority and the chambers of commerce of Guyana to make my task easier," Macedo said. She hopes to have these trade agreements fully implemented from next year and will also be working closely to push the Roraima Integration project which involves the heavy-duty cargo road, the deep-water harbour and an industrial complex to the South of Guyana.
While the Brazil/Guyana Chamber of Commerce was established some 30 days ago in Sao Paulo, Guyana has also established a consulate in Sao Paulo, to further the process.
According to Macedo, the Brazil/Guyana Chamber is open to membership for Brazilian businesses interested in doing business with Guyana and Guyanese companies doing business in Sao Paulo. It has a bilateral objective and Macedo sees the benefits to members in the strengthening of projects and the furthering of trade.
Macedo and Paulo Vale, Guyana's Honorary Consul in Boa Vista were part of the Brazilian delegation to Guyana and they yesterday briefed the Georgetown Chamber on trade relations, the road project and the setting up of an honorary consul office in Lethem.
Eddie Boyer, President of the Chamber, told reporters that there was an order from Brazil for over 30,000 tonnes of rice from Essequibo and a request has been made for the dredging of the Essequibo River to allow for increased trade.
He said there is a need to develop a more structured trading relationship with Brazil and noted that such a relationship is being worked on.
Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Geoff Da Silva says that the Brazil/Guyana and Brazil/ Caricom Chamber of Com-merce formed in Brazil are a result of the initiatives of Cheryl Miles, Guyana's ambassador to Brazil. He says that Brazil is very serious about accessing the Caricom market and forming alliances with Guyanese companies.
The delegation to Guyana represents businesses in Sao Paulo and Rio, the manufacturing and industrial heart of Brazil and is an improvement from the past trips by businesses from Manaus and Boa Vista.
But while there is a keen interest in increasing trade, Boyer acknowledges security concerns. He said customs and immigration facilities were being set up in Lethem to allow for more organised trade. He said because of the concerns over crime, mechanisms were being put in place on both sides of the road to police traffic.