Barbados and Venezuela Forge Stronger Ties: A New Era of Collaboration

In a groundbreaking meeting, Barbados and Venezuela unveil ambitious plans to enhance cooperation across trade, energy, and cultural sectors. Discover the details of this pivotal partnership!

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC)—In a significant move towards bolstering their bilateral relations, Barbados and Venezuela engaged in discussions on Monday aimed at establishing a range of collaborative initiatives encompassing trade, economy, culture, and energy development. Prime Minister Mia Mottley met with Delcy Rodriguez, the acting president of Venezuela, who arrived in Barbados on Sunday evening. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of their talks. Rodriguez remarked, 'April 27th marks the beginning of our cooperation in economy and trade with Barbados,' highlighting the discussions that also included proposals for Barbados to invest in Venezuela's oil and gas sectors. She emphasized that Barbados could play a vital role in boosting Venezuela's hydrocarbon production, ensuring energy supply and safety for Barbadians in the future. The discussions also covered renewable energy initiatives, such as joint manufacturing of solar panels, to create a comprehensive energy sector. Rodriguez underlined the potential for investment and the need to revisit agreements on investment and double taxation. In her remarks, Mottley pointed out that global energy prices affect everyone, stating, 'We have been exploring ways to deepen our bilateral cooperation with Venezuela.' She noted that the Barbados National Energy Company, despite its smaller size, is positioned to collaborate with others to enhance investments in the offered fields, aiming for greater resilience and affordability

in energy access. Mottley recalled past instances where Caribbean nations navigated international oil crises with external support, thanking Mexico and Venezuela for their assistance during past crises. She mentioned ongoing discussions with Venezuela to provide other Caribbean nations with discounted products where feasible. 'Over the last fifty years, Venezuela has been a close ally to the region regarding energy security and access to affordable energy products,' she stated. Mottley acknowledged that while Barbados has substantial energy needs, other nations may have more modest requirements, emphasizing the importance of cooperation to benefit both countries amid current energy insecurities. She expressed a desire for energy collaboration to extend beyond fossil fuels to renewable sources, including solar water heaters, photovoltaic panels, and wind energy. 'We believe there are tremendous opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy,' Mottley added. She extended her gratitude to Rodriguez for progressing the bilateral relationship on this significant date and mentioned her invitation to visit Caracas. Noting the proximity between the two countries, Mottley stated, 'We should not allow history or language to hinder our potential for cooperation.' She reiterated the importance of ensuring that diplomatic relations benefit not only governments but also the everyday citizens of both nations. During their discussions, it was highlighted that Mottley expressed interest in Barbadians learning Spanish as a second official language. Rodriguez mentioned the existing Institute for Cultural Cooperation in Barbados, which has been providing Spanish lessons, and announced plans to enhance the institute's capabilities with technology to facilitate closer training ties with Venezuelan educators. This initiative aims to promote cultural exchange and learning opportunities. Additionally, the leaders discussed food security, with Mottley affirming Barbados' commitment to establishing a robust agro-processing industry to significantly boost exports for both countries. 'We aim to ensure that incoming planes and ships do not return empty but carry produce to support our farmers and manufacturers,' she stated. Furthermore, she indicated an agreement to collaborate on agricultural research and scientific methods to improve yields, addressing the global challenges faced in agriculture. Mottley emphasized the importance of scientific advancements in increasing harvests to benefit farmers and the region's countries.

📝 Sobre este conteúdo Esta matéria foi adaptada e reescrita pela equipe editorial do TudoAquiUSA com base em reportagem publicada em Jamaicaobserver . O texto foi modificado para melhor atender nosso público, mantendo a precisão factual. Veja o artigo original aqui.