Guyana-Brazil summit to focus more on oil, gas and bauxite mining

Irfaan Ali, had a conversation with his neighbouring partner Brazil in the oil and gas industry and in bauxite mining before the visit of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, which is scheduled to later this month.

As per the statement released by the office of the President, the two Presidents held a teleconference on Monday. President Ali emphasized that Guyana wants to have a firm strategic partnership with its Portuguese-speaking neighbours during the conference while focusing on several key points.

President Ali said, “We have several important issues and opportunities for both Guyana and Brazil that I want to highlight even before our meeting, so our technical team can initiate with their work.”

The sole fields that President Ali assured that the two nations would focus on strengthening are their bilateral partnerships include energy and food security, telecommunication, infrastructure integration and trade.

He also talked of linking the two nations.

President Ali further said, “in addition to oil and gas, also widening opportunities in the rest of non-oil natural resources sector such as bauxite will bring an opportunity for a direct link to northern Brazil and the Atlantic that can make up an excellent platform for us to create an integrated project.”

Earlier, last month President Ali announced that a massive regional conference featuring the leaders of Guyana, Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname would take place in January. It is hoped that the countries may consent to the framework for energy cooperation.

President Ali also talked about trade relations with Brazil during Monday’s teleconference.

The release further emphasized that conversations are going on broadening these trade relations between Guyana as nations want to expand their trade quota, specifically with the quantity of rice being exported to Brazil.