Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro
President Jair Bolsonaro has committed his efforts to encouraging Brazilian investments in Guyana as he talked up the possibility that there could soon be a flood of investments from that country here.
As Bolsonaro addressed members of the press in Georgetown during his one-day visit on Friday, he promised that on his return to Brasília, he will not only encourage, but he will incentivise members of the Brazilian business community to bring their businesses here.
“My visit here has been promising for our countries and people,” he said during brief comments at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
The Brazilian leader reckoned that Guyana has a bright and prosperous future, reasoning that it was not only because of oil and gas but also because of how the government has fostered a closer relationship with its neighbours.
“I feel very honoured that Dr. Ali called me a friend and the feeling is mutual,” Bolsonaro said.
Bolsonaro, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi all met in Paramaribo in January 2020.
Bolsonaro was also slated to arrive in Georgetown on January 21 from Suriname but after news of the passing of his mother, he flew back to Brazil.
Dr. Ali, in brief remarks on Friday, also spoke of investment opportunities to be ironed out between the two states.
The two Presidents committed to broadening the scope and expanding the provisions of the Partial Scope Agreement and to working towards the full operationalisation of the Agreement on Cooperation and Facilitation of Investment.
In the coming weeks, there will be a bilateral virtual seminar of the business community of both countries to be coordinated on the Brazilian side by the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APX-Brasil) with a focus on new opportunities in the oil and gas sector.
As part of the visiting delegation were senior members of Petrobras, a state-owned Brazilian multinational corporation in the petroleum industry and Minister of Mines and Energy Bento Costa Lima.
The two sides also advanced discussions in the areas of infrastructure and agriculture.
President Ali thanked Brazil for the longstanding support and talked up the important role which border communities can play in developing good relations.
Comments
Not mentioned in the article above the plan of a railway link between Boa Vista and Georgetown. Yet another pipe dream? I am all on board to have paved secure road connection between Georgetown and Lethem, which will link up with the road on the Brazilian side to Boa Vista. This makes sense, but a railway from Boa Vista to Georgetown? What should be transported? What are the export goods that the Brazilian state of Roraima would export to the Guyanese coast for export? The population of Roraima is about 630’000, which is comparable to Suriname. The economy of the state of Roraima is the smallest in Brazil, corresponding to only 0.2% of Brazil’s economy. It produces agricultural products with an emphasis on rice, soybeans and corn. These products are shipped by river to Manaus for export. Where is the need for a railway? President Ali please explain.