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Antigua, Guadeloupe in cooperation deal
The two will sign an enhanced Bilateral Cooperation Agreement which covers a wide range of areas.
After months of negotiations, Antigua and Barbuda and the Regional Council of Guadeloupe will today sign an agreement to share expertise and make joint approaches to secure development assistance.
The signing ceremony takes place between Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and President of the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, the Victorin Lurel this afternoon.
Under the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement, the two countries will cooperate in economic, scientific and cultural development including disaster preparedness, renewable energy, agriculture, tourism including sports tourism, education including linguistic exchanges, marine services yacht and ferry services, health, culture, information and communication technologies, the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises and trade export along with media and information exchange.
Emphasizing the historical importance of the agreement, Prime Minister Spencer indicated that untapped opportunities would now be explored.
“Additional expertise will become available in the sector specific areas while the things we have competitive advantage in will be shared with Guadeloupe,” he explained.
At its January 13, 2011 meeting, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda agreed to commence negotiations with the French overseas departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guiana, for the strengthening of bilateral relations within the context of the CARIFIORUM – European Union Economic Partnership Agreement and led by Ambassador Dr. Clarence Henry.
Source: Caribbean360
