MS. PENNY Williams, Deputy Foreign Minister and Trade Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs in the Australian Government along with Mr John Pilbeam, Australian High Commissioner to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, visited Honourable Raphael G.C. Trotman M.P., at the Ministry of Natural Resources on Friday April 28, 2017.

During the discussions the parties addressed a number of issues related to Guyana’s natural resources sector, including oil and gas, gold production and opportunities that these sectors may have for future cooperation.

Minister Trotman told the visiting party of how impressed he was with Troy Resources, the Australian gold company whose contribution was instrumental in Guyana’s achieving a record-breaking gold production in 2016. The Minister noted that company’s commitment to health and safety, not only of its workers but also of persons who might reside in the communities in which that company operates.

The discussions also included where Guyana was with the development of its Sovereign Wealth Fund with Minister Trotman noting that this fund will be managing revenues not only from oil and gas but also from mining and forestry with a view to enhancing transparency in all natural resources sectors.

Minister Trotman spoke of all the support that Guyana was receiving in preparation for management of the oil and gas sector. He noted that Guyana needed support in terms of training of persons in the oil and gas sector and indicated the Ministry’s willingness to receive support from Australia.

The visiting team intimated their willingness to examine ways in which the friendship and cooperation between the two countries could be enhanced.

Ms. Williams, who was appointed to her current post in February 2017, also pledged Australia’s support for Guyana regarding the nation’s territorial integrity.
Since Guyana and Australia established diplomatic ties on May 14, 1973, relations between the two countries have been concentrated mainly on interactions at the multilateral level through fora such as the Commonwealth and the United Nations.

There remains great potential for increased bilateral cooperation in the areas of education/training, agriculture, trade, tourism, security, health and in environment and climate change related matters.