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Ambassador of Mexico, Mario Eugenio Arriola Woog, during a recent courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean. (A. Miller/BGIS)

Barbados has been praised by the government of Mexico for agreeing to host the 2nd Mexico-CARICOM Summit, slated for next month.

This sentiment was expressed by the Ambassador of Mexico, Mario Eugenio Arriola Woog, during a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, at her Culloden Road office recently.

He explained that the Summit presented both sides with an opportunity to expand and build on their relations. The Mexican envoy also added that the conference was critical for determining areas of collaboration, particularly in business and trade, safety and health, and various greening initiatives.

The Foreign Affairs Minister pointed out that as Mexico continued to play an active role in hemispheric integration, Barbados and CARICOM saw the need to foster closer ties with its Latin American counterpart.

She further noted that Mexico shared the agenda of Small Island Developing States in strengthening approaches to Climate Change and the Green Economy.

Ambassador Woog noted: "Mexico also recognises the need to be more present in the English-Speaking Caribbean." Extending an invitation to the Barbadian Foreign Minister to visit his country, he pointed out that this island could benefit from observing Mexico’s relations with its diaspora.

In turn, Minister McClean expressed appreciation at his request, further outlining that her Ministry was currently planning the second Barbados Network Consultation conference, commonly known as the Barbados Diaspora Conference.??

Agreeing that this island could learn from Mexico, she remarked that Barbados hoped to strengthen its diaspora bonds, not only through remittances, but also "by engaging intellectual capacity and resources in an established way."

Barbados and Mexico established formal diplomatic relations in 1972 and have since cooperated at the multilateral level in organisations such as the Association of Caribbean States and the Organisation of American States.??

Mexico is a major oil producer and exporter, and has the second largest economy in Latin America.?? The Central American country is predicted to emerge as one of the world’s largest economies in the next three decades.

Mexico accredits its Embassy in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to Barbados.?? Dr. Trevor Carmichael is currently Mexico’s Honorary Consul here.

shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb

Author: Shamkoe Pil??

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