Chile’s 214th Independence: Guyana eyes deeper collaboration with Chile on investments, energy, and food security

…other areas to be explored at upcoming bilateral talks

Guyana and Chile having shared 53 years of diplomatic ties, Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips has expressed Guyana’s wish to collaborate with this Spanish-speaking country on a number of areas, including investments, energy and food security.

Chile celebrated its 214th Independence Anniversary on Tuesday evening during a reception held at the Marriott Hotel, and Prime Minister Phillips used that opportunity to extend congratulations to Chilean President Gabriel Boric and the people of Chile on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana.
According to Prime Minister Phillips, Guyana has already formed a strong partnership with Chile in a number of different forums, such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the United Nations (UN).
“Our collaboration has extended across various platforms — bilateral, regional, and international —allowing us to pursue issues of common interest as members of CELAC, the Brazilian Consensus, and through the CARICOM-Chile mechanism, as well as at the UN. Together, we have advanced programmes for the economic and social development of our countries,” Prime Minister Phillips detailed.
Lauding Chile’s contributions to human resource development in the fields of geological mapping, maritime training, and linguistic skills, Phillips noted that Guyana is eager to strengthen its collaboration with Chile, and revealed that consultations would be upcoming on key areas that include trade, investment, environmental protection, agriculture, maritime issues, mining, and energy.
“The relations between our two countries stand on the foundation of shared values, mutual respect, and trust. We share a strong adherence to principles of international law, including the United Nations Charter, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation among states,” he declared.
“Like Chile, Guyana remains committed to the principles of democracy, good governance, respect for the rule of law, and protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. These, we believe, are critical elements to the maintenance of peace and security across our region,” Phillips has said.
In the area of agriculture, the Prime Minister pointed out that Guyana is already considered a leader in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) when it comes to food security. In particular, he said, the 25 by 2025 initiative which seeks to reduce food imports into the region by 25 per cent by 2025 is the brainchild of President Dr. Irfaan Ali.
According to Phillips, Guyana welcomes the potential for further collaboration with Chile when it comes to agriculture.
“Guyana, as lead for Caricom on this initiative, continues to advocate for food and nutrition security in the region. Our Government welcomes collaborative efforts and partnerships which can build the necessary capacity to meet the rising need for expertise in the technological advancement and resilience of this sector,” he declared.
The Prime Minister also addressed shared climate challenges such as forest fires and drought, stressing the need for joint efforts to combat these issues, especially their impact on food security.
Additionally, Chile’s efforts to advance regional integration across South America was mentioned. When it comes to democracy, good governance, and economic growth, the Prime Minister noted, these two countries share similar commitments.
The Prime Minister also laid out Guyana’s overall development strategy, particularly regarding improving healthcare, education and infrastructure, and reducing the cost of living.
“Our Government is committed to a holistic development strategy that addresses national aspirations, providing improved access to healthcare, education, water, social services, and infrastructure while working to reduce the cost of living,” he detailed.
Prime Minister Phillips was joined at the reception by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; and by other Cabinet members and members of the private sector and diplomatic community.
Guyana and Chile established diplomatic relations on July 22, 1971. (G3)