…Guyana also gets new Bahamian High Commissioner
President David Granger said that he notes the offer by the United Arab Emirates to support the participation of developing countries in the World Expo 2020, which that country will be hosting and added that Guyana will work towards being represented at the event.
The Head of State made this announcement on Wednesday when he accredited Ms Hafsa Abdulla Mohammed Sharıf al Ulama as Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Guyana, adding that there is much Guyana can learn from that country’s renewable energy development commitments.
“Guyana is about to become a producer of petroleum. The United Arab Emirates is already a prosperous petroleum producing peninsula but, notwithstanding its hydrocarbon resources, has demonstrated a firm commitment to renewable energy development. We look forward to learning from the experience and expertise of the Emirates as we develop the petroleum sector of the economy,” the President said.
He noted, also, that Guyana will not be swayed from its objective of becoming a ‘green’ state, which will place emphasis on the protection of our environment, the preservation of our biodiversity and the generation of energy from renewable sources.
The President reminded of Air Services Agreement, which the two countries signed in 2015. This agreement, he said, can become a catalyst for the development of tourism and can increase contacts between the peoples of Guyana and the United Arab Emirates. “Guyana looks forward, also, to continued collaboration between our two countries within the ambit of the Organisation of Islamic States, the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations,” he said.
Meanwhile, the new Ambassador said that she has been given a mandate by President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to develop the relations between the two countries.
Guyana and the United Arab Emirates have enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties on February 6, 1995. 
New Moroccan Ambassador accredited
As Guyana and the Kingdom of Morocco celebrate five years of cordial diplomatic relations, President Granger on Wednesday also accredited Nabil Adghoghi as the new Moroccan Ambassador to Guyana. The two countries established formal diplomatic ties on December 14, 2012.
President Granger said that Morocco’s efforts to balance economic development and the protection of the environment can provide valuable lessons for Guyana. Moreover, he lauded Morocco’s global leadership on issues such as climate change and the protection of the environment manifested in its hosting of the Conference on Climate Change in Marrakesh November 2016, which he attended.
“I had the opportunity to participate in that event and to iterate our support for the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions, including through the increased generation and use of renewable energy. Guyana is in transition towards becoming a ‘green’ state. The ‘green’ state will place emphasis on the protection of our environment, the preservation of our biodiversity and the generation of energy from renewable sources. Guyana looks forward to cooperation with Morocco in advancing its ‘green’ development agenda,” the Head of State said.
The new Ambassador said that there is potential for significant cooperation between Guyana and Morocco, noting that his country has a keen interest in developing partnerships in agriculture, fisheries, maritime transport, professional training, water management, student exchanges.
“Guyana has been playing an important role in regional and international relations especially in the formulation of development policies… Morocco launched in November in Brasilia, negotiations for free trade agreement with Mercosur [Common Market of the South] to which Guyana is an associated member. This framework will automatically impact the development, economic and commercial ties between our two countries,” he said.
Guyana gets new Bahamian High Commissioner
Moreover, President Granger reaffirmed Guyana’s support for The Bahamas in their reconstruction process even as they work to recover from the recent catastrophic hurricane season and said that there is much scope for strengthened cooperation between the two states especially in the areas of agriculture, education and tourism.
The Head of State made these remarks on Wednesday when he accepted Letters of Credence from Reuben Rahming, accrediting him the new High Commissioner of The Bahamas to Guyana.
“Guyana and The Bahamas are members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a community where every citizen can be secure and has the opportunity to realise his or her potential with guaranteed human rights and social justice… Our two countries have enjoyed excellent relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations on August 10, 1973. Guyanese teachers and lawyers continue to contribute to The Bahamas’ public services,” President Granger said.
Meanwhile, High Commissioner Rahming said that the new administration in The Bahamas has a lot in common with the Government of Government as both are committed to fighting corruption and climate change and pursuing greater economic prosperity for the peoples of their respective countries.
He also spoke of The Bahamas’ high food import bill, which he said that his country is seeking to reduce through increased production and the strengthening of the agricultural sector. In this regard he said that, “there is much that we stand to learn from Guyana and look forward to engaging in discussions at the technical level towards this end.”
The Bahamas is a leader in tourism and the new High Commissioner said that he will work to increase the tourism exchange between the two countries. He noted too, that given the diversity of the two countries’ respective tourism products, there is much they can learn from each other so as to keep the tourism in the region strong and vibrant.
