New Consul General to Brazil appointed
- aims to forge greater bilateral relations with southern neighbour  

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has announced that Government had received the necessary agreements from the Brazil and as such, Mrs. Leila King will be appointed as the new Consul General.
            Her comments came while addressing media operatives during a press briefing in the Ministry’s boardroom.
            “On the occasion of the inauguration of the Takutu River Bridge, President Bharrat Jagdeo spoke about the upgrading of our representation in Boa Vista which for some time was served by an honorary consul. We had promise then to upgrade the embassy to a consulate general,” she said.
This, according to the Foreign Affairs Minister, is to further strengthen trade and bilateral relations with the Brazilian Government. Mrs. King is a Guyanese entrepreneur who has been a resident in Boa Vista for the last 20 years.
 The newly appointed consul general is very au fait with Brazil’s culture, and with the conduct of business; demonstrating a keen interest in developing relations between the two neighbouring countries.
King has been credited with the visits to Guyana, of several private sector representatives from Brazil, seeking to improve business relations between the two states.
The Foreign Minister pointed out that there is a partial verbal agreement with the neighbouring country, whereby some local products are allowed to enter Brazil on a preferential basis.
She explained that a request for expansion of the list has been approved from October 15.
“We have submitted to the Brazilian Government an additional list which included items such as flour, pharmaceutical and rum and I am very pleased to announce that Brazil has approved that list,” she added.
            The Minister reiterated that the initiative is definitely an expansion of trade relations with Brazil, noting that it is hoped that the private sector would make use of the opportunity that such a development will provide.
            This would now see 16 other tariff lines entering Brazil duty free.
Leila King is the Managing Director of Maikan Turismo, a tour company in Brazil.