Barbados will forge ahead with broaden its trade and investment relationship with traditional and non-traditional trading partners, including Caribbean countries and extra regional partners.
Minister, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Honourable C. Sandra Husbands shared this view with H.E. Sándor Marnix Raphaël Varga van Kibéd en Makfalva, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Barbados.
During a recent virtual meeting both officials expressed their desire for a new paradigm in the relations between Curaçao and Barbados that would allow the peoples of both countries to benefit from an expanded programme of cooperation.
To this end, several initiatives were discussed to advance cooperation and investment in the areas of trade, air linkages, education and training, agriculture, science and technology, marine affairs, renewable energy, climate change, culture, tourism and the management of natural resources.
The talks also focused on exploring possibilities in green energy and establishing a double taxation agreement and bilateral investment treaty between the two countries.
Minister Husbands observed that a multi-country engagement strategy with the European Union (EU) could be mutually beneficial to advance the effectiveness of development efforts by Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS).
In turn, Ambassador Varga van Kibéd en Makfalva indicated interest in the multi-country approach and in particularly the future ventures between Barbados and Curaçao aimed at to deepening cooperation.
Senior Foreign Service Officer with responsibility for the CARICOM/Caribbean Affairs Division, Sandra Gittens, proposed the establishment of a Joint Commission mechanism to provide the framework for the execution of bilateral initiatives and to further solidify the Barbados/Curaçao relationship.
Ambassador Varga van Kibéd en Makfalva agreed to put the proposal before his government.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ms. Simone Rudder and Foreign Service Officer William Clarke were also in attendance at the meeting. (MFAFT/END)
