There is a promise from the new Honorary Consul General of Switzerland, Claudio Macchi, to promote a stronger relationship between Barbados and his homeland.
He outlined his plans to bring greater visibility to the Swiss community during the presentation of the Exequatur today, to officially formalise his role as Honorary Consul General, during a brief ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Mr. Macchi said: ???I see my role as threefold. First, to establish stronger relations between Barbados and Switzerland, to keep in contact with the Embassy in Venezuela to let the Ambassador know what is happening here in Barbados and to be better acquainted with the Swiss community.???
Meanwhile, Chief of Protocol, Philip St. Hill, said from a bilateral standpoint, Barbados had signed a Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment Agreement with Switzerland in March 1995, but negotiations on a double taxation agreement had been dormant since 2007. In this regard, he said the Government was anxious to recommence negotiations towards the conclusion of an agreement.
Mr. Macchi, who has been living in Barbados for the past 16 years, is a graduate of the Swiss Institute for Business Administration Studies and the KV Zurich Business School. He is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manufacturers P&C Limited, Barbados.
An exequatur is a patent which is issued by a head of state to a foreign consul that guarantees his or her rights and privileges of office and the right to exercise such powers.
julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb