Strength of our diplomatic relations key to economic development - Granger

Strength of our diplomatic relations key to economic development – Granger

Apr 09, 2017 News

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell

President David Granger was keen to note the importance of the Foreign Service during a recent

President David Granger

interview on The Public Interest. He said that there is much to be gained through strong diplomatic ties. The benefits listed include the securing of grants, protection for Guyanese in other countries and an improved economy.
Granger told reporters that it would be difficult to operate without a foreign service in the international community.
The President said that Guyana was able to secure over a billion dollars from the People’s Republic of China, “that is the work of our diplomats.”
Continuing on how diplomacy helps the economy, Granger said, “When we speak of the national interest, we mean that the diplomats or the Foreign Service must go out to the places they are stationed and sell rice, rum and timber, bauxite, sugar, sell Guyana as a tourist destination, bring in investors.”
The President said that while the present set of diplomats are doing a fine job; more can be done in the field of marketing Guyanese products. “We have to keep searching for markets.”
Granger said that Guyana has occupied most of the traditional stations like India, China, United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada. He noted that Trinidad and Tobago has recently been added “because of our thrust in the Caribbean.” The President said that his government is looking to open new consulates so that marketing can be increased and “our citizens, particularly those in the Diaspora, can benefit. “
The President noted that Guyana has a large Diaspora in eastern Venezuela, western Suriname, and northern Brazil and in many Caribbean islands.
“So at the country level we want to see a very active foreign service and at the community level we want to see a stronger Caribbean, a stronger CSME.”
Granger said that his government wants to ensure that Guyana’s interests are protected by having a network of friends in the various international organizations.
He told reporters that the recently concluded Heads of Mission Conference was very important in making sure the various countries “are singing from the same song sheet, and I am very glad that it has taken place because many of the diplomats are there for the first time.”
Granger critiqued that during the PPP/C reign, some diplomats were in the same place for 17 or 18 years “so we have lost the effectiveness. We are in the process of transforming the Foreign Service, therefore this conference (was) important in moving us from where we are to where we want to be, it is transitional, but at the same time it is placing a greater focus on economic diplomacy to make sure we sell more.
The President reiterated that he wants to improve consulate services, but noted that there is a financial cost to bear. He also emphasised the need to complete the work on the country’s Foreign Service Institute, so that younger diplomats can be trained.
“Things will be better in a couple of years. But I am very happy with the work done so far. The thrust is towards economic diplomacy—it’s a primary national interest for me, selling more Guyanese products.”

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