Guatemala is willing to provide expert advice and personnel to assist Government with its proposal to restructure the sugar cane industry as announced in the 2013 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals.
That country???s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Luis Fernando Carrera Castro, gave this undertaking last Wednesday during a courtesy call with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean.
During the meeting at the Ministry on Culloden Road, the Ambassador said his country had been investing in the sugar industry in Mexico and Brazil and described Guatemala???s sugar sector as ???very modernised, utilising some of the most modern technologies in the Western Hemisphere and [it is] very well organised???.
He further stated: ???It [the sugar industry] has tremendous investors many of whom are leaders in the business community and we also have investments in other countries such as Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic and I think many of them would be more than happy to come to Barbados and share [their knowledge].???
In turn, Senator McClean said the sugar cane industry???s focus had been extended from that of production to concentrating on a number of other byproducts and added that the restructuring presented an opportunity to have industry officials examine the best practices implemented by Guatemalan sugar officials.
Barbados established diplomatic relations with Guatemala on January 27, 1992.
julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb