Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
Winston Watson (right), managing director of Petrojam, Carl James (left), general manager of the Jamaica Cane Products Sales Ltd., Celso Amorim (centre), Brazilian Minister of External Relations, and other members of the Brazilian delegation view the new ethanol plant under construction at Petrojam in Kingston, yesterday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICA AND Brazil are due to sign trade agreements on agriculture and ethanol following the first visit by a Brazilian Foreign Minister to the island.
Speaking at the signing of a joint communiqué between the two nations at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in St. Andrew, Brazilian Minister of External Affairs, Celso Amorim, said the cooperation was part of Brazil's commitment to encouraging greater self-sufficiency in energy in the Caribbean.
BILATERAL RELATIONS
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, K.D. Knight, said the announcement came at a time of greater bi-lateral relations between the two countries. The upgrading of the Petrojam oil refinery, completed with the assistance of the Brazilian Government-owned Coimex firm, will see the plant ready to produce exports by mid-June. Initially 100 per cent of production will be exported. Three years later the ethanol is targeted to form 10 per cent of gasolene fuel refined in Jamaica. Brazil is a world leader in converting ethanol to diesel fuel.
Mr. Knight also announced plans for Jamaica to open an embassy in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia.
