Areas for partnership between Guyana, Indonesia identified
THE commonalities in the agriculture sectors of Guyana and Indonesia provide a good platform to advance a meaningful partnership, according to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud.
He said, last Thursday, that agriculture is a good basis on which to build relations.
It was after Mr. Persaud had met with the Indonesian Ambassador to Guyana, Nur Syahrir Rahardjo, who, earlier, presented his credentials to President Bharrat Jagdeo.
The diplomat had indicated that agriculture was a possible area of partnership between the two countries and Persaud said: “We are moving forward and we need partners like Indonesia to get there.”
He noted that Indonesia has made progress in its agriculture thrust and Guyana can take from the experience in its own.
Persaud pointed out that, in partnering with Indonesia, efforts can be made to have Indonesians accommodated here to facilitate the transfer of skills.
“We can have them here to work with us in areas where we need the skills…accommodations are available…what is important is that we are going to advance large scale operations,” he said.
Persaud explained that, in developing the local agriculture sector, increasing emphasis is being placed not only on exports but also on large scale agricultural activities.
He said such a focus can benefit from linkages with partner countries, as well as agencies.
The Indonesian envoy said, as it relates to having specialists in Guyana, experts in cultivation of the rambutan fruit, that is native to Indonesia and can grow locally and in the area of mangrove restoration are expected here.
Persaud said, although Guyana has advanced in its efforts to fight climate change, there is still room for collaboration with nations facing similar threats.
“We are very vulnerable to climate change as is Indonesia and, for us, we are looking at how it is we can pursue climate smart agriculture and how we can learn from each other in terms of adapting to climate change, looking at crops, technical expertise and at what we can do, in terms of sharing resources as well as knowledge,” he stated.
Persaud mentioned the Guyana National Mangrove Restoration Project (GNMRP) and emphasised its importance as part of this country’s climate change adaptation efforts.
He said, in the continued effort to adapt to the climate change phenomenon, partnering with Indonesia, among other nations, will further enhance the quest and allow a sharing of experiences to benefit the parties involved.
Persaud contended that, in a resource strained setting, pursuing mutually beneficial partnerships is a step in the right direction.
The GNMRP is aimed at restoring, rehabilitating and protecting mangrove belts wherever they exist as part of overall forest protection.