Matters pertaining to cooperation in agriculture and its byproduct industries were among the areas discussed, when Argentina???s Ambassador to Barbados, Diego Limeres, paid a courtesy call recently on Minster of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick.

During the meeting at the Ministry, last Tuesday, the Ambassador said the reopening of the Embassy four months ago would allow for closer talks on areas of cooperation to strengthen the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries.

He acknowledged that there were similarities between the Ministries of Agriculture in both countries. The Ambassador gave an undertaking to ???formulate an agreement between the two ministries and to promote a visit of a technical delegation to have some exchanges???.

???Any suggestions that you [Dr. Estwick] might have to strengthen a particular area will be welcomed and I will transmit this information to my authorities,??? Ambassador Limeres underlined.

In turn, the Agriculture Minister said he had a particular interest in the trade of agriculture products and was currently examining ways to apply modern technology in agriculture to boost agro processing.

???We are still functioning very heavily off the primary system of operation where a lot of our products are still in the raw form. But, we need to move towards the business side of agriculture which is food and agriculture development [or] agro processing. Any assistance on that side where we can have our personnel trained and be exposed could be of importance to us,??? Dr. Estwick added.

The two officials also discussed educational cooperation through the provision of scholarships and student exchanges, fisheries development and sugar and its by-product industries. Argentina and Barbados established diplomatic ties on August 16, 1968.

julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb

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