The technical meeting of Petrocaribe, began this Tuesday in the city of Porlamar, in the State of Nueva Esparta, Venezuela and will end Friday. The objective of this technical meeting aims to strengthen the regional integration, energy cooperation and sovereignty of signatory nations has explained Asdrúbal Chávez, Vice-President of Refining, Trade and Supply of Petroleum of Venezuela (PDVSA), in his opening address.

Chavez, who is also President of the subsidiary PDV Caribbean, said that an assessment of the successes of the multilateral agency both in terms of energy agreements than about social development, will also be conducted.

During these days, 32 representatives from 16 member countries involved [including Haiti]. "Chavez indicated that "working tables will be conducted to strengthen projects that develop in the 16 countries as part of Petrocaribe, projects that promote regional integration and cooperation." A press note, issued by PDVSA, mentioned that this meeting seeks to strengthen solidarity, economic complementarity, energy security and sovereignty of peoples over their natural resources.

Petrocaribe in its integration scheme, contributes, with the construction of infrastructure in the region, to respond to the energy needs of the countries of Central America and Caribbean, historically exploited by transnational companies, which worked as intermediaries and speculated in the oil bill.

Asdrúbal Chávez indicated that during this multilateral meeting agreements on energy supplies will be revised as well as agreements that provide financial resources for developing countries. Adding that what is wanted "it is that participating countries can manage their energy needs with concepts distant of the administration of the these corporations."

Many topics will be on the agenda of this event, as the strengthening of the operational joint ventures, saving energy, support for social and productive projects, and the energy development in the areas of exploration, of the refining, petrochemicals, fuel supply, gas and alternative energy.

Petrocaribe has been created in June 2005 by 14 countries. Haiti and Nicaragua have joined the group later, which now has 16 members. During these six years of management, the initiative Petrocaribe has helped to strengthen the energy security, reduce poverty through the Alba Caribe Fund, to ensure food security and establish a fair trade between countries through trade in goods and services.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-1039-haiti-rumeurs-de-palais-le-gouvernement-voudrait-utiliser-100-millions-du-fonds-petro-caribe.html (in french)

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-1095-haiti-politique-yves-christalin-refuse-d-avaliser-l-utilisation-du-fonds-petrocarib.html (in french)

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-1636-haiti-economie-le-budget-2010-2011-depend-a-66-de-l-aide-internationale.html (in french)

HL/ HaitiLibre