BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has ended a high-level working meeting with Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodriquez, late Monday with both leaders agreeing to deepen the historical ties of friendship, fraternity, and cooperation that unite both countries.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley (Left) and Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rpdriquez shake hands during their meeting in Caracas on Monday (Government of Barbados photo)According to the Joint Declaration issued following the talks in Caracas, the meeting discussd priority areas of cooperation, identifying energy, agriculture, fisheries, education, culture, and tourism as key engines of development, underpinned by trade and transport across all sectors.
With regards to energy security, Bridgetown and Caracas have committed themselves to “deepen commercial exchange and training in the area of energy and hydrocarbons” as well as to develop the commercial exchange of hydrocarbons and oil derivatives.
They have also agreed to promote cooperation for the training and capacity-building of Barbadian personnel in Venezuelan territory as well as provide technical assistance and training in land exploration and fields’ recovery.
The two leaders have agreed to establish a technical working team for the permanent monitoring of these agreements and explore opportunities for cooperation and investment in renewable energy and the development of related infrastructure.
The Joint Declaration notes that in the area of food security, the two countries have agreed on several initiatives to enhancing food security, mitigating shocks and uncertainty and developing trade and collaboration in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
It said that they have designed a joint work plan between the ministries of agriculture of both countries, to address issues of climate change, resilient agricultural systems, livestock management systems, soil health, and research and development, through specialised technical engagements.
Agreement has also been reached on a bilateral protocol for export and import permits and requirements for meat products, enhance communication between the ministries of agriculture to ensure policy alignment, enhance data sharing, and to improve crisis management.
In addition, they will explore joint investment opportunities in the fisheries sector, focused on processing, value addition, logistics, and knowledge transfer as well as advance initiatives for investment in agricultural lands to boost supply, increase food security and expand economic potential.
To fulfil commitments in educational and cultural matters, it is agreed that they two countries will create a working group between the Ministries of Education of both countries, to advance educational collaboration in language training for students from the pre-school to tertiary levels, language teachers and professionals.
They will also expand legal instruments and logistics for student exchanges in languages (Spanish and English), music, the arts, science and technology, public health, sports, industry vocabulary, hydrocarbons, agriculture and fisheries as well as implement scholarships in agreed areas and the implementation of pilot scholarship programmes in each country for students commencing in the 2027/2028 academic year.
In addition they will take steps to develop a Mutual Recognition Agreement for the recognition of education qualifications for language and other courses of training.
In tourism, they have agreed to sign a bilateral tourism agreement in the coming weeks to increase visitor flow, facilitate coordination among tour operators, conduct periodic business matchmakings, launch multi-destination packages, offer training in universities and hotel schools, and activate shopping and wellness tourism.
The Barbados Tourism Minister is to pay a visit to Caracas during the next four-month period in order to deepen the sector’s work plan with the leaders also agreeing to initiate permanent technical cooperation mechanisms focused on sharing knowledge and best practices regarding low-impact infrastructure resilient to extreme climate events.
Barbados and Venezuela will hold the First Binational Tourism Meeting in 2027 to develop, exchange, and deepen cooperation and the integration of both nations’ tour operator networks and launch familiarisation trips (FAM trips) with strategic stakeholders and specialised media professionals.
In anticipation of the normalisation of air and maritime transport of people and goods and the reopening of Maiquetia International Airport, both countries have agreed to work together to harmonise the necessary arrangements for cargo transport, promote commercial exchange with public and private sector entities as well as establish and implement arrangements for commercial shipping services and the opening of a direct maritime cargo route.
They will also promote the Bridgetown–Porlamar–Caracas commercial route and project both countries as air connectivity transit hubs, taking into account current connections with Europe and the rest of the world.
In order to define a technical and expeditious approach to issues of common interest the two leaders have agreed to the creation and formal installation of a Binational Joint Commission, which will meet annually in ordinary session or as determined by the authorities, alternating its venue between both capitals.
During Monday’s meeting Prime Minister Mottley expressed her condolences to President Rodríguez for the victims of the seismic doublet of June 24, 2026, wishing Venezuela a speedy recovery, while Rodríguez thanked Barbados for the immediate deployment of rescuers, the shipment of humanitarian aid, and the setup of a Field Hospital in Guarenas, Miranda State, which has provided care to over 2,600 Venezuelans.
