Guyana to supply 210,000 tonnes of paddy and rice to Venezuela – two countries ink letter of commitment

Guyana and its Spanish-speaking neighbour Venezuela today signed a Letter of Commitment for Guyana to supply 140,000 tonnes of paddy and 70,000 tonnes of white rice. Since the first agreement was sealed between then President Bharrat Jagdeo and Former Venezuelan President the late Hugo Chavez, several similar agreements have been signed benefitting local rice farmers.

Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy and Minister of Nutrition and Food Safety Felix Osorio of Venezuela sign the Letter of Commitment for Guyana to supply over 200,000 tonnes of paddy and white rice to Venezuela. Also in photo is: Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

This agreement was inked by Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and Venezuelan Nutrition and Food Safety Minister Felix Osorio at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

The Venezuelan Minister said he was happy to sign the agreement as, “It will be good to strengthen Venezuela’s rice reserves and it will also help to boost Guyana’s rice industry”. The minister added that his country’s current president Nicolas Maduro will adhere to the agreement which was initiated by the late President Chavez. “We will continue to work for the unity and peace of our people,” he said.

Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy and Venezuelan Minister of Nutrition and Food Safety Felix Osorio exchange the Letter of Commitment for Guyana to supply over 200,000 tonnes of paddy and white rice to Venezuela. Cheering is Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett Minister

Minister Ramsammy thanked his counterpart for visiting, noting that security, friendship and cooperation between the two South American countries were improving. Minister Dr. Ramsammy also said the Guyana Government is looking forward to working with the neighbouring nation to develop agricultural projects.

He also affirmed Guyana’s commitment to supplying and meeting the demand for rice within the region. Minister Dr. Ramsammy said he has accepted an invitation extended by his counterpart to visit Venezuela on May 15   to finalise the rice agreement.

Those gathered, including rice farmers at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal to witness the signing of the agreements between Guyana and Venezuela

Following the signing, Dr Ramsammy told the media that, “It is a concrete way of cementing the cooperation, the friendship between our two countries. We look forward to more extensive collaboration in agriculture, we look forward to work with Venezuela, not only to develop our agriculture sector further, but that our two countries and our people will work together to end poverty and hunger in the Caribbean and Latin America,” Dr. Ramsammy said.