CARICOM and Chile agree to further strengthen their technical cooperation

October 16, 2021

The Caribbean Community and Chile have agreed on a programme of activities for the next year as they seek to further strengthen their technical cooperation.

Representatives of the CARICOM Secretariat and the Chilean Agency for International Cooperation discussed the ongoing CARICOM-Chile Technical Cooperation Programme at a recent meeting at the Secretariat’s Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana.

The Meeting issued the following Press Statement:

On 4 October 2021, Ambassador Colin Granderson, Assistant Secretary-General, for Foreign and Community Relations led a delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, including the Director, Resource Mobilization and Technical Assistance, Franzia Edwards, in a meeting with the Agencia Chilena de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AGCID) at the CARICOM Secretariat.

The delegation from Chile was led by Mr. Christian Jara Brito, Executive Director of the AGCID, and included His Excellency, Juan Manuel Pino Vasquez, Ambassador of Chile to CARICOM, Ms. Carolina Faune, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Chile in Guyana and Ms. Daniela Paz Rodriguez Celis, AGCID. Executive Director Jara was also accompanied by Ms. Adriana Bolanos, Vice Minister, Foreign Relations, Costa Rica, a country with whom Chile is currently discussing triangular cooperation programmes involving Central America and the Caribbean.

The CARICOM Secretariat and the delegation from Chile discussed the ongoing CARICOM-Chile Technical Cooperation Programme. The Meeting agreed to continue with the existing overarching CARICOM-Chile Cooperation Framework, with more effective and direct interactions between the Parties. Both sides also agreed to a programme of activities over the next year including the Mid-term review of the CARICOM-Chile technical cooperation and the convening of the Third Meeting of the CARICOM -Chile Joint Commission. A draft MOU called “Human capital formation projects” was presented by the Chilean delegation for consideration. An invitation was extended to the CARICOM Secretary-General to make an official visit to Chile.

The Meeting also discussed possible new areas of cooperation including a trilateral cooperation programme among CARICOM, Chile and Costa Rica.

Ambassador Granderson, on behalf of the Community, expressed appreciation to Chile for the technical cooperation assistance provided to the Region over the years, particularly in the areas of disaster management and Spanish Language training, and assured the delegation that the Community valued Chile’s continued support and collaboration.

The Meeting ended with the parties agreeing to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation among CARICOM, Chile and Costa Rica.

Staff Writer, CARICOM October 15, 2021