GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – The Governor of the neighboring Brazilian state of Roraima, Antonio Olivério Garcia de Almeida, arrived in Guyana on Friday for a two-day visit.

He met with President Dr Irfaan Ali for talks on matters related to agriculture and livestock, energy, infrastructure, technical exchanges, as well as opportunities for greater private sector collaboration and investment.

The governor was accompanied by the secretaries for investment attraction, agriculture, communication and military, the special envoy of Roraima to Guyana and other officials.

The governor and Ali discussed strategic areas of cooperation between Guyana and northern Brazil, specifically the state of Roraima including agriculture and livestock, energy, infrastructure, technical exchanges, as well as opportunities for greater private sector collaboration and investment.

Recognising the importance of these areas to enhancing trade, connectivity and food and energy security, the two sides discussed possible areas of cooperation, including the following – to intensify efforts towards the completion of the second phase of the Linden-Lethem Road Project; develop  a food and livestock processing hub in Lethem to increase agriculture production and exports to the Caribbean region and beyond; establish  an integrated energy complex in Lethem through a public-private partnership, encompassing facilities for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and other petroleum products and  establish  scholarship and exchange Programmes between tertiary institutions of Guyana and the state of Roraima in the areas of agriculture, research and technology transfer.

Both sides agreed to form a joint working group with clear objectives and timelines to implement the initiatives discussed and identify new opportunities for bilateral cooperation between public and private stakeholders.