Mexico interested in Guyana’s rice, seeks ‘diversity’ in imports

Dec 12, 2016 News

– says Ambassador during visit to Berbice

As Guyana moves ahead in establishing bilateral relations with various countries as a means of promoting sustained development for the country, the Mexico-Guyana relationship has shown much promise.
H.E Ivan Robero Sierra Medel, Ambassador of Mexico to Guyana, recently paid a visit to Berbice on an invitation from Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s Representative (Region 6) Mr. Gobin Harbhajan, who visited Mexico recently. The Ambassador met with businesses and farmers to explore bilateral trading opportunities and investments.
H.E Ivan Sierra , speaking to this publication stated that, “I see a lot of interest in rice and that is good because it matches the supply that is available in Guyana with the demand from the Mexican markets”.
According to the outgoing Ambassador, the Mexican market consumes some one million tonnes of rice annually, with Mexico producing some 10 percent of the rice they consume.
“We are importing rice, but our importers told us that they want to diversify, they have tried many countries and they are interested in the high quality Guyanese rice and they want to try paddy as well, but those are other importers we already talked to, there are also others importers”.

Stakeholders and farmers in attendance

From left – Businessman Rajindra Persaud, Mexican Ambassador to Guyana H.E Ivan Sierra and Gobin Harbhajan addressing stakeholders and farmers

He made reference to an upcoming Supermarket exposition in Mexico, to which he invited Guyanese and others who are interested in exporting their products.
The Ambassador said that participants will have the opportunity of expanding their businesses, especially in the area of rice, which is in demand in Mexico. “Market for rice in Mexico is diversified, Guyanese rice is top quality”.
Just recently, rice farmers in Berbice have been complaining of the low prices per bag of paddy.
The Regional Chairman Mr. David Armogan had pleaded with the government to urgently look into the issue, particularly since Guyana lost its Venezuelan market.
Other investment areas such as the coconut industry, lemon, fish and shrimp, electronics, sugar and agricultural machinery parts were also discussed.
The Ambassador posited that the meeting with farmers and businessmen was productive.
“It has provided me with the opportunity to disseminate the information about what can be done with Mexico and how we can make better use of the potential that we have currently”.
Mexico’s main exports to Guyana included wheat, fertilizer and alcohol (beer), and Guyana’s main exports to Mexico are rum and bauxite.
Guyana and Mexico established diplomatic ties on March 1 1973.