Renewable Energy (RE) was the main issue discussed when Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, met with Ambassador of Austria to Barbados, Dr. Gerhard Doujak, during a courtesy call on Tuesday, at the Ministry’s Warrens Office location.
Minister Cummins thanked Austria for its partnership with the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), which is based in Barbados, and is positioned to advance the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Caribbean Community.
The Energy Minister highlighted some of the challenges Barbados is experiencing in the RE sector, including bulk procurement for critical RE supplies, such as batteries, in particular the lithium-ion type.
“While we’re happy for Austria to continue supporting CCREEE and while we’re looking forward to working with you even more in areas relating to the energy sector, we also hope that we can count on greater collaboration on issues relating to global business and the avoidance of some of the unilateral measures that we have seen without engagement,” Senator Cummins stated.
Ambassador Doujak, who resides in Colombia and presented his credentials last September, said he saw his second visit to Barbados as a “good opportunity to speak directly” with Minister Cummins on matters relating to energy and enhancing the relations that exist between Austria and Barbados.
The two officials also discussed the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, which is based in Vienna, Austria; the Bridgetown Initiative; international business with regards to the global convergence tax rate, black and grey listings; and researching Sargassum seaweed.
Also present at the courtesy call were Permanent Secretary (Energy), Andrew Gittens, and Foreign Service Officer II, Shireifa Joseph.
Barbados and Austria established diplomatic relations on November 27, 1967.