Prime Minister Mark Phillips has reiterated Guyana’s commitment to regional integration and to MERCOSUR objectives of advancing the possibilities for business, investment and expanding commercial relations, a release from the Department of Public Information (DPI) yesterday stated.
This statement formed part of the Prime Minis-ter’s remarks made at the 62nd Summit of Heads of State of MERCOSUR and Associated States, which was held in Puerto Iguazu, Misiones Province, Argen-tina yesterday.
The Southern Common Market, commonly known by Spanish abbreviation MERCOSUR, is a South American trade bloc established by the Treaty of Asunción in 1991 and Protocol of Ouro Preto in 1994. Its full members are Argentina, Brazil, Para-guay and Uruguay. Vene-zuela is a full member but has been suspended since 1 December 2016. Associate countries are Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname.
“Guyana remains committed to partnering with the Member States of MERCOSUR in working to advance the objectives of this regional bloc for the economic and social development of our countries and the prosperity of our peoples,” Phillips was quoted as saying
He expressed this country’s pleasure to be associated with MERCOSUR and called for further expansion of trade partnerships.
“Guyana appreciates that as an Associate Member, it can benefit from trade arrangements that would afford it preferential access to markets. We can do more to expand these arrangements and to encourage increased trade, particularly with the Associate Member States – Guyana and Suriname.”
The senior government official, who also addressed the topic of structural disparities and gaps within societies and across countries, highlighted that “There has to be a conscious effort to pursue solutions towards effective strategies to bridge those gaps and overcome the barriers to trade.”
The prime minister also spoke of the need for the formulation of strategic partnerships in the post-COVID period, while emphasising food security, climate security, and energy security.
“We can develop strategic partnerships to achieve these objectives. In particular, we must raise our collective voice at the upcoming COP 27 to ensure that the right decisions are taken with regard to adequate support for adaptation and climate finance, he noted”
During the event, Prime Minister Phillips offered his best wishes to the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has taken up the pro-tempore presidency of the alliance and assured him of Guyana’s full support, the release added.
