Guyana urges expansion of trade links within MERCOSUR

…as PM reaffirms Govt’s support for regional bloc

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips on Tuesday reiterated Guyana’s commitment to regional integration and the MERCOSUR objectives of advancing the possibilities for business, investment, and expanding commercial relations.
The Prime Minister made this reiteration during the 62nd Summit of Heads of State of MERCOSUR and Associated States in Puerto Iguazu, Misiones Province, Argentina.
The Southern Common Market – MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials – is a regional integration process established by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay that promotes a common space to generate business and investment opportunities through the competitive integration of national economies into the international market.

Guyana – alongside Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Suriname – is an associate member of MERCOSUR, and all these states are thereby allowed to receive tariff reductions when trading.
“Guyana remains committed to partnering with the Member States of MERCOSUR in working to advance the objectives of this regional bloc for the economic and social development of our countries and the prosperity of our peoples,” Phillips said during the Summit.
Acknowledging the benefits of being associated with MERCOSUR, the Prime Minister further called for the expansion of trade partnerships.
“Guyana appreciates that, as an Associate Member, it can benefit from trade arrangements that would afford it preferential access to markets. We can do more to expand these arrangements and to encourage increased trade, particularly with the Associate Member States Guyana and Suriname,” Phillips said.
Additionally, Phillips noted that conscious efforts have to be made to pursue solutions towards effective strategies to overcome the barriers to trade, and bridge structural disparities and gaps within societies and across countries.
Further, Prime Minister Phillips advocated for the formulation of strategic partnerships in the post-COVID period, emphasising food security, climate security, and energy security.
“We can develop strategic partnerships to achieve these objectives. In particular, we must raise our collective voice at the upcoming COP28 to ensure that the right decisions are taken with regard to adequate support for adaptation and climate finance,” Phillips has said.
He also offered his best wishes and assurance of Guyana’s continued support to President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has taken up the pro-tempore presidency of the alliance.