Britain is to plough ₤1.5 million into boosting Guyana’s agricultural exports as the Department for International Development (DfID) takes over an agricultural diversification programme from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
British High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre made the announcement at a reception held on Thursday night, at his residence, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Ayre also announced that the United Kingdom would shortly open the doors of a Trade and Investment Office here for both Guyana and Suriname. “I am… pleased to announce that DfID will take over from USAID, Guyana’s Agricultural Diversification Programme from September, spending almost ₤1.5 million helping to develop the export potential of Guyana’s agriculture, fishing and horticulture sectors,” said Ayre.
The Trade and Investment Office, he added, coming at time when there is continued austerity in the UK, is very significant. “I am delighted therefore that my High Commission will soon open a Trade and Investment Office to help deepen our economic links in a more structured and systemic way by enhancing two-way trade and investment flows,” he said.
He urged Guyanese to take advantage of the ₤26 million ‘Compete Caribbean’ programme and tariff-free access to the European Single Market through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
“I hope that Compete Caribbean… will bear fruit, improving productivity and competitiveness in Guyana,” he said.
The High Commissioner said he met with the Queen last month and “she fondly recalled her two visits to Guyana” and was pleased that her son Prince Charles remains the patron of the Iwokrama International Center for Rainforest Conservation and Development. He added that the British Government was committed to supporting and promoting sustainable development.
Noting that DfID has increased spending in the Caribbean by 50% on a range of issues from tackling the effects of climate change, promoting renewable energy to strengthening security, he said that more still needs to be done. “It is only through partnership with our friends and allies that progress can be made on these most pressing challenges facing us. So much remains to be done to fulfil the shared objectives outlined in the UK-Caribbean forum Action Plan agreed in January,” Ayre said.
In his remarks, President Donald Ramotar said he welcomed the role which DfID will soon play. “I am confident that this gesture will bring us closer in realising the potential of Guyana’s agriculture, fishing and horticulture sectors,” he said.
Equally important, Ramotar stated, was the decision of the British High Commission to open a Trade and Investment Office here. “We hope that this would be a catalyst for deepening our bilateral economic links and trade and investment flows. Guyana is open for business and I fully support the coming on stream of all other ventures which would prove lucrative to Guyana’s development prospects,” he said.
He extended an invitation to the British Government to join Guyana in showcasing initiatives in the area of sustainable development at the upcoming Rio+20 Conference to be held in Brazil later this month.
