Caracas, November 6, 2024. – A Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation was signed at the headquarters of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) this Wednesday in Caracas. This agreement, forged between Venezuela’s People’s Power Ministry for Productive Agriculture and Land and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry, and Labor, marks the inaugural cooperation under the Agroalba initiative.

ALBA’s Executive Secretary, Jorge Arreaza, extended a warm welcome to the officials, expressing that it is an honor for ALBA to launch this new phase of solidarity-driven cooperation.

“We would like to begin by expressing our deepest gratitude to President Nicolás Maduro’s government for initiating this project with a spirit of solidarity. This new Agroalba program will enable us to ensure food for our peoples and bring necessary investment to our countries to develop the agricultural and livestock sectors, especially in the Eastern Caribbean,” Arreaza stated.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yván Gil, emphasized the importance of joining efforts within the ALBA-TCP platform to create synergy in agricultural investments. He highlighted the benefits of generating profitability for farmers and, above all, advancing the development of rural areas.

Agroalba aims to establish food sovereignty within the ALBA region as its primary goal. “We must have a region that is also safeguarded in terms of food security,” Gil stated.

Venezuelan Minister for Agriculture and Land, Menry Fernández, pointed out that this first agreement is a foundation for continued regional growth.

“This initial Memorandum embodies the genuine integration of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is the first step toward strengthening our unity,” he said.

Fernández further noted that Venezuela already achieves 100 percent production in certain agricultural goods, positioning the country to export food at a significant level.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Rural Transformation, Saboto Caesar, expressed his gratitude for the initiative, describing it as crucial for all ALBA member states.

“We are sowing seeds today that will yield results in the future. I encourage everyone to embrace solidarity; we must contribute food to other Latin American countries,” Caesar affirmed.

The event was also attended by Alex Saab, President of the International Center for Productive Investment (CIIP in Spanish); Camila Fabri, Venezuela’s Deputy Minister for International Communication; and Raúl Li Causi, President of the Bank of ALBA.