Barbados and Venezuela have agreed to deepen cooperation in energy, including the commercial exchange of hydrocarbons and oil derivatives, as part of a wider push to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
The agreement also covers food security, education, tourism and transportation, with plans for a direct maritime cargo route and increased trade and investment.
The commitments are contained in a Joint Declaration agreed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez following high-level talks in Caracas on Monday.
Under the energy agreement, Venezuela will provide training and capacity-building for Barbadian personnel, as well as technical assistance in land exploration and fields recovery.
The two countries will also explore opportunities for cooperation and investment in renewable energy and related infrastructure and establish a technical working team to monitor the agreements.
The declaration follows bilateral talks held in Bridgetown on April 27 and identifies energy, agriculture, fisheries, education, culture and tourism as key areas of cooperation, supported by trade and transportation.
On food security, the two governments agreed to develop a joint work plan covering climate change, resilient agricultural systems, livestock management, soil health and research and development.
They will also design a bilateral protocol governing import and export requirements for meat products and explore investment opportunities in agricultural lands.
In fisheries, the countries intend to pursue joint investment opportunities focused on processing, value addition, logistics and knowledge transfer.
Education initiatives will include student and teacher exchanges and scholarships.
Pilot scholarship programmes are expected to begin in both countries for students commencing studies in the 2027/2028 academic year, while language teacher exchanges are also targeted to begin during that academic year.
The two governments will also take steps towards developing a Mutual Recognition Agreement for educational qualifications for language and other training courses.
In tourism, Barbados and Venezuela intend to sign a bilateral agreement in the coming weeks aimed at increasing visitor flows, facilitating coordination among tour operators and developing multidestination packages.
Barbados’ Minister of Tourism is expected to make an official visit to Venezuela within the next four months, while the first Binational Tourism Meeting is planned for 2027.
The two countries have also agreed to work towards establishing commercial shipping services and opening a direct maritime cargo route.
They will promote the Bridgetown- Porlamar-Caracas commercial air route and seek to position both countries as air connectivity transit hubs.
A Binational Joint Commission will also be established to oversee areas of cooperation.
It will meet annually, alternating between the two capitals.
The declaration also addressed Barbados’ humanitarian assistance to Venezuela following the June 24 seismic doublet.
Rodríguez thanked the people and Government of Barbados for deploying rescuers, providing humanitarian aid and establishing a field hospital in Guarenas, Miranda State, which has provided care to more than 2,600 Venezuelans.
Mottley visited the field hospital during her trip and interacted with patients and Barbadian personnel.
Both governments said action to implement the agreements would begin immediately, with their foreign ministries expected to report on progress every six months.
Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is also expected to visit Barbados in the coming weeks.
(BT)
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