Guadeloupe-Martinique delegation exploring business and cultural linkages in Guyana

A 12-member team from Guadeloupe and Martinique is currently in Guyana on a Trade Mission, which will conclude on December 5, 2017.
According to Guyana’s Honorary Consul to French Guiana, Travise Tracey-Lecante, the group is here on the invitation of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.
PM Nagamootoo, speaking to the media on Saturday, explained that the team came as a result of a visit he made to Guadeloupe in March.

The Prime Minister further explained that the delegates were presently exploring trade opportunities to replace those disrupted by the recent hurricane. “They are looking for contacts to supply fish, coconut, sugar, rice, fresh vegetables and fruits.  They have sent the list of what they require immediately.”
Martinique and Guadeloupe were among the Caribbean countries recently affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Trade through several hurricane-affected countries has been stalled or rerouted, in some cases resulting in raised prices for shippers and consumers as products take longer to get to their intended destinations.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the visiting team is looking to develop trade partnerships with local lumber dealers.

Tracey-Lecante noted that the trip was very well-coordinated with the help of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest). “We have visited coconut farms, the Guyana Marketing Corporation; we also had the pleasure of being welcomed by the Prime Minister himself along with the Ministry of Business,” Tracey-Lecante mentioned.
Head of the Delegation and President of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Michel Narananinssamy said: “I am very happy to be here and most of what we have seen here is impressive. We really appreciated all the manufacturing products that we saw.”
He further added, “We were also happy and impressed with all the various Ministers that were present during the different meetings. There are endless possibilities for us to invest in and will present an Agri Tourism Project to the Government of Guyana.”
Professor, Dr Renuka Naidu-Voisset from the University of the French West Indies disclosed that she was on the trip for cultural reasons. “We are interested in Guyana, because we found out that it is not only a country that is multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and this is what Martinique and Guadeloupe are and that’s why Guyana is so interesting so that we can create greater links with dancing and music, among others.”
Another member of the team, Gobardhan Jean Marie noted that the will of the country to go forward was very strong and commendable. He added: “We have noticed that Guyana has a lot of potential and willing to invest”.