President Irfaan Ali has held discussions with Stéphane Séjourné, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic on a Joint Working Group on enhanced cooperation between the two countries.
This was disclosed yesterday in a release from Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
French Ambassador to Guyana and Suriname, Nicolas de Bouillane de Lacoste, advised Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud that Paris was ready to begin the work of the Joint Working Group in May, the release said.
A Joint communiqué between Guyana and France signed in March this year agreed to set up the Joint Working Group to strengthen collaboration in areas such as defence, climate change, food security, infrastructure, technology, and tourism.
The release also noted that on Monday, the third Guiana Shield Strategic Dialogue began in Georgetown.
On March 26 this year, in the Joint communiqué issued in Georgetown, it was announced that France will establish an embassy next year in Guyana. The Joint communiqué was issued following a meeting between President Ali and Minister Séjourné.
“Given the desire to forge closer links as neighbouring countries and friends, Guyana and France have decided to write a new chapter in their history by opening a French Embassy in Georgetown in 2025. France will be the first EU (European Union) country with this level of diplomatic representation in Guyana”, the Joint communiqué added.
The Joint communiqué said that opening a French Embassy will boost the development of cooperation in various sectors, including the economy, in priority areas for Guyana where French companies hold renowned expertise.
“The Government of Guyana looks forward to the establishment of the Embassy which signals the benefits of the economic transformation being experienced by the nation and the interest of France in developing its relations with the Caribbean region.
“The Government of the French Republic welcomes the opening of this Embassy, which will help strengthen the integration of our overseas territories in the region and illustrates its ambition to consolidate the universal character of its diplomatic network”, the Joint communiqué said.
