The Jamaican Government and Brazil yesterday signed two agreements which will provide for academic cooperation, which will see the exchange of students between both countries, and visa abolition for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

The agreements were signed following the conclusion of bilateral talks between both countries yesterday as President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ended his two-day working visit to the country.

Direct flights

According to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, both countries will cooperate in other areas. These include collaboration as it relates to ethanol, and, in the area of air service, the Prime Minister said there would be the introduction of direct flights between both countries.

"This would not only connect the South American and Caribbean regions but of equal importance, facilitate code-sharing alliances to destinations beyond Jamaica and Brazil," she said.

Mrs. Simpson Miller said Jamaica would also be offering 10 scholarships to Brazilian nationals over a two-year period for training in hospitality skills at the HEART Trust/NTA.

Sports

In the area of sports, the leaders discussed prospects for forging cooperation where Jamaica will offer technical coaching of track and field to Brazil which will do likewise for Jamaica's football programme.

On social development, the Prime Minister said both countries have agreed to share best practices in terms of anti-poverty programmes and policies.

"In the area of agriculture, we agreed on the importance of continuing our programme of technical cooperation. In this regard, we will implement a project on the modernisation of Jamaica's sugar and ethanol sectors," she said. In addition, she said, Brazil would donate new varieties of high-yield sugar cane to Jamaica, which will assist local farmers to increase their productivity.