Thursday 2 August 2012

Suriname wants co-operation with Ecuador's petroleum sector


Suriname would like closer co-operation with Ecuador's mining and petroleum sector. In two months' time, Natural Resources Minister Jim Hok will travel to Quito to start discussions.

This was made clear during the official visit of Ecuador's Foreign Affairs Minister Ricardo Armando PatiƱo Aroca. With a 12-member delegation, he visited Suriname on 17 and 18 July. Suriname's Minister of Foreign Affaris Winston Lackin received his counterpart and delegation and there were talks on regional integration, climate change, markets for products, visa policy and tourism. Ecuador's tourism is booming; there is a 10% growth each year. Suriname is also busy establishing its tourism industry. Education was another topic of the discussions. At the end of the visit a 'Memorandum of Understanding' was signed in which, among other things, it was agreed that there will be an exchange programme of knowledge between both countries. Furthermore, there must be co-operation in the areas of trade and agriculture.

The visit of the Ecuadorian delegation must be seen in the light of deepening the regional integration. Suriname, being a small non-Spanish speaking country on the continent, has always been isolated compared to the Spanish-speaking countries. The Bouterse-Ameerali government is now trying to break out of this isolation.

For more news and expert analysis about Algeria, please see Suriname Politics & Security.

© 2012 Menas Associates

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