MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, has initiated talks on visa-free travel to Italy, during discussions with non-resident Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Italy to Guyana, Fabrizio Nicoletti.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Minister Todd pitched the idea of visa-free travel by outlining that it would have mutual benefits to both countries, particularly through private sector engagements and people-to-people exchanges.

During the engagement, he said, too, that Guyana was committed to fostering stronger bilateral relations and partnership with Italy in priority areas of government including health, education and security.

He further related that Italy and the European Union (EU) remain valuable partners to Guyana and CARICOM.

On this note too, Ambassador Nicoletti alluded to several technical cooperation initiatives, including Italy’s role in supporting the Agri-Food Systems agenda of CARICOM towards reducing the Region’s food-import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

The CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda is led by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. The current implementation of the agenda gives special attention to priority crops and products in Member States to achieve this target.