Barbados, Venezuela agree to expand energy and agricultural ties
Key Points(5)
- Barbados and Venezuela have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy and food security, including expanded trade in petroleum products, agricultural investment and fisheries, following high-level talks between Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez.
- Mottley visited Venezuela on Monday, where the two leaders held a high-level working meeting involving ministers and other officials from both countries.
- The talks resulted in a joint declaration outlining plans for expanded cooperation across energy, agriculture, fisheries, education, culture, tourism, trade and transportation.
- On energy, the two countries agreed to develop commercial exchanges involving hydrocarbons and petroleum derivatives while providing training opportunities for Barbadian personnel in Venezuela.
- Venezuela is also expected to provide technical assistance and training in land exploration and the recovery of oil fields, while the two governments will establish a technical working group to monitor implementation of their agreements.
Barbados and Venezuela have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy and food security, including expanded trade in petroleum products, agricultural investment and fisheries, following high-level talks between Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez.
Mottley visited Venezuela on Monday, where the two leaders held a high-level working meeting involving ministers and other officials from both countries.
The talks resulted in a joint declaration outlining plans for expanded cooperation across energy, agriculture, fisheries, education, culture, tourism, trade and transportation.
On energy, the two countries agreed to develop commercial exchanges involving hydrocarbons and petroleum derivatives while providing training opportunities for Barbadian personnel in Venezuela.
Venezuela is also expected to provide technical assistance and training in land exploration and the recovery of oil fields, while the two governments will establish a technical working group to monitor implementation of their agreements.
The countries will also explore cooperation and investment in renewable energy and related infrastructure.
The agreement comes as Barbados continues efforts to strengthen its energy security while pursuing its transition toward renewable energy.
Food security also featured prominently in the discussions, with Bridgetown and Caracas agreeing to develop a joint agricultural work plan addressing climate change, resilient agricultural systems, livestock management, soil health, and research and development.
The countries plan to develop a bilateral protocol governing export and import permits and requirements for meat products and improve information sharing between their agriculture ministries.
They will also explore joint investment in fisheries, including processing, value addition and logistics, as well as investment in agricultural lands aimed at increasing food supplies and strengthening food security.
The governments said the initiatives are intended to help mitigate external shocks and uncertainty while expanding economic opportunities in both countries.
Mottley and Rodríguez also agreed to establish a Binational Joint Commission to coordinate issues of mutual interest. The commission is expected to meet annually, alternating between the two capitals.
The two governments said implementation of the initiatives outlined in the declaration would begin immediately, with their foreign ministries reporting on progress every six months.
During the visit, Mottley also toured a field hospital established in Guarenas following the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela.
Mottley expressed condolences to Rodríguez over those killed in the disaster, while the Venezuelan president thanked Barbados for deploying rescuers, sending humanitarian assistance and establishing the hospital, which the joint declaration said has treated more than 2,600 people.
