International Cooperation seen as the twin arm to Foreign
Trade in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation
will be responsive generally and in the final analysis to the demands of the people of Guyana for
significant improvements in their economic well being and in the quality
of their lives. As a consequence its functions, which need to be clearly articulated, will
focus essentially on resource mobilization from external sources through
a variety of internationally accepted channels and by innovative and creative
opportunity seeking.
International Cooperation will
therefore be specifically responsible for the following:
a. Cooperation with Developed Countries:
For the immediate future this will remain the principal
area of resource mobilization. Focus will be on the continuing
development of programmes of cooperation with the traditional donor
community - USA, Canada, the UK, the EU, China and Japan - seeking new
opportunities for arresting the overall decline in aid to Guyana and
maximizing the effective use of such aid for the people of Guyana.
"Guyana
Investment Agreements"
b. Cooperation with Developing Countries:
Considerable emphasis needs to be placed on strengthening
the solidarity of developing countries through such avenues as
South-South Cooperation and the Group of 77 and China of which Guyana
was Chairman in 1999. Involvement in the North-South debate on
issues of significant developmental concern to developing countries
should also be high on the agenda under International Cooperation.
c. Cooperation with UN Agencies:
Apart from continuing the administration of UN programmes
of assistance in Guyana - UNDP and UNICEF - and through the UN Resident
Coordination having oversight of the work of other UN Agencies
accredited to Guyana, there is a wide area of economic cooperation that
needs to be developed at the level of the UN Headquarters and the
Headquarters of its Specialized Agencies. In this regard attention only
needs to be drawn to the UN’s global focus on Technical Cooperation
Among Developing Countries and the myriad of programmes - and
opportunities - that can be effectively pursued to Guyana’s advantage.
In addition there are specific global challenges of direct concern to
Guyana which require careful monitoring as for example the preparations
for the UN sponsored Summit on Financing for Development scheduled for
the year 2002.
d. Cooperation through Joint Commissions:
This remains a principal avenue for resource mobilization
and other forms of economic assistance as seen from the significant
results and benefits to Guyana of the Joint Commissions with China,
Japan and India. With careful research and preparation this avenue
will be explored for maximum benefit to Guyana.
e. Cooperation within
CARICOM
f. Cooperation with Other Agencies
g. Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations
h. Inter-Ministry Cooperation
