Newly-accredited Swiss Ambassador Armin Ritz and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business, Donville Inniss, have discussed ways to strengthen the excellent bilateral relations that already exist between Barbados and Switzerland.
The discussion came during Mr. Ritz’s recent courtesy call on Mr. Inniss.
Minister Inniss and Ambassador Ritz also exchanged views on the current financial crisis in the US and its likely impact on world economies, climate change, CARICOM regional integration and regional institutions within the Caribbean Community.
At the bilateral level, they agreed that an appropriate economic model for both countries would be to undertake greater exploration of niche marketing and development of small family businesses. Switzerland had made extensive use of this model.
There was promise of greater cooperation in economic matters and air services between the two countries. Switzerland and Barbados established diplomatic relations in 1980. Barbados has a diplomatic mission in Geneva which is accredited to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva.