PARAMARIBO, Suriname – Suriname and Venezuela Friday agreed to further their bilateral cooperation focusing also on food security, the economy and with Caracas indicating a willingness to share its experience with oil exploration, production, and gas with the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons show off the documents containing the bilateral agreements.The two countries signed the various bilateral agreements following talks here between visiting Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriquez and host head of state, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons.
A joint statement issued after the talks said that the agreements cover, among others, fisheries and aquaculture, agri-food and productive alliances, aviation, tourism, the oil and gas sector, higher education and specialized training. Agreements have also been made regarding academic cooperation and diplomatic training.
“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975, Suriname and Venezuela have been very good neighbors and friends,” said President Greelings-Simons, adding that the relationship is based on mutual respect, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful cooperation.
“Success must be visible above all in concrete and sustainable results for our populations,” said the Surinamese head of state, who has been invited to the South American country for a follow-up visit.
Rodríguez expressed her appreciation for the humanitarian aid Suriname provided to her country following the devastating double earthquakes of June 24 that killed thousands of people.
According to the joint statement, under the agreement,200 Venezuelan fishermen from Nueva Esparta and Sucre will receive a permit to fish in an Atlantic corridor made available by Suriname.
Rodríguez said she was particularly pleased with the fisheries agreement, noting that it would benefit both countries and that it also offers Suriname opportunities for the export of grouper and snapper, among other species, to the United States and other markets.
The two leaders have also agreed on improving airlinks with Rodríguez announcing that commercial flights between Suriname and Venezuela in addition to the so-called “fifth freedom” that would give airlines more opportunities to operate connections via both countries.
The improved air connection is also intended to stimulate tourism. Both countries want to bring tour operators closer together and jointly develop multi-destination tourism.
Rodríguez said that in addition to air connections, sea transport between the two countries must also be further developed.
Venezurla has also offered to share its experience with Suriname in developing the oil and gas industry with Rodríguez indicating that the Venezuelan research institute Intevep and the Universidad Venezolana de los Hidrocarburos possess technological facilities that can be deployed for the collaboration.
In education, agreement was reached for Venezuela to make educational opportunities available with Rodríguez stating that the doors of the Universidad Latinoamericana de Medicina are being opened to students wishing to study medicine in Venezuela.
