Prime Minister Gaston Browne wants to see expanded trade between Antigua and
Barbuda and Chile, one of South America’s largest economies.
Speaking this morning during a courtesy call by the new Chilean Ambassador to
Antigua and Barbuda, PM Browne even offered Antigua and Barbuda as a gateway
for products from Chile to enter the other OECS states.
“Chile produces a number of products which we could consume here in Antigua
and Barbuda. Eighty percent of what we consume, we import, and you have very
good prices; you have good cuts of meat, and your wines are some of the best in
this region. So we want to see more of your products consumed here in Antigua
and Barbuda. Perhaps too, Antigua and Barbuda could become a centre for Chilean
products entering the OECS. We therefore should have further discussions in this
area,” PM Browne remarked.
In the area of climate change, the prime minister noted that both Antigua and
Barbuda and Chile have shared experiences with natural disasters.
“We have several things in common in the area of natural disasters. You are
located in what is commonly called ‘the ring of fire’ and you are not unaccustomed
to climate events such as earthquakes, volcanoes and even tsunamis. You can
understand our plight here coming from a small vulnerable state where we have to
contend with these ferocious storms that are becoming increasingly frequent as a
result of climate change. We have collaborated in the international fora on the
issue of climate change, and we will continue to do so,” he stated.
The prime minister also updated the ambassador on Antigua and Barbuda’s action
to ask the Law of the Sea tribunal whether large polluters have a moral or legal
responsibility to reimburse small nations that suffer losses due to issues of climate
change.
The new Chilean Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda Jose Antonio Cabeno
Espinosa said his country is at a point of reestablishing a number of its
programmes that were curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One such
programme involves the language exchange programme from which Antigua and
Barbuda could benefit. On the issue of Chilean investments and trade, Ambassador
Espinosa said this is an area that Chile has to pursue to encourage its private sector
to explore investments and trade with the CARICOM region.
