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Senator Lynette Eastmond

Senator Lynette Eastmond, Barbados' Minister of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development, speaking recently at a business seminar, at United Nations (UN) House, in association with the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC), is of the view that the "synergies to be derived from Barbados' reconnection with Africa, have great potential for culture, the economy, trade and investment".

Senator Eastmond commented that as part of the foreign policy, "Barbados has set for itself a goal of reconnecting with the African continent". She shared several ways in which the current has achieved this goal.

"We have established formal diplomatic relations with Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, Niger, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Ghana and Botswana. Barbados has signed bilateral agreements with some of these countries which we consider necessary for cementing a firm and meaningful relationship. Some of the agreements are technical scientific and cultural cooperation agreements," she commented.
It is our government's intention to foster greater ties with the African. Senator Eastmond urged the private sector to "explore the possibility of engagement in meaningful commercial activity with Africa with the support and facilitation of government".
Mr. Anton Norris, formerly of the BIDC, commented that despite sharing a unique cultural history with the African continent, "Barbados was yet to build a lasting bridge for trading with our neighbours across the Atlantic.

September 13, 2006 -