Pará and French Guiana discuss cooperation agreement between the territories

The Government of Pará, through the Secretariat of Economic Development, Mining and Energy (Sedeme), represented by the head of the department, Paulo Bengtson, met with the representative of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana (CTG), Christian Haridas.

The main objective of the meeting was to identify, in partnership, the main axes of collaboration between the two territories, with a view to implementing an agreement between the State of Pará and the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana (CTG). The initiative seeks to develop integrated strategies within the framework of the Interreg Program for Amazon Cooperation (PCIA).

Paulo Bengtson highlighted the relevance of the agenda for the implementation of strategic actions aimed at promoting opportunities for dialogue between different sectors and consolidating joint initiatives, focusing on sustainable economic development, environmental preservation, for the benefit of Amazonian peoples.

Christian Haridas emphasized that "French Guiana, an ultraperipheral region of the European Union located in the heart of the Amazon, shares with the State of Pará important environmental, economic, and social challenges that we could discuss in order to plan numerous collaboration opportunities."

Regarding the possibility of integrated actions, Haridas proposed a concrete cooperation dynamic through the holding of online workshops between French Guiana and Pará. The meetings will focus on disseminating European funding opportunities — especially by promoting connections between project holders on both sides of the border, aiming to build effective partnerships, he reinforced.

About the Interreg Program for Amazon Cooperation (PCIA), it is an initiative funded by the European Union aimed at promoting sustainable development and strengthening regional integration in the Amazon. The program is coordinated by the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana (CTG) and brings together efforts from Amazonian countries and states, including French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and the Brazilian states of Pará, Amapá, and Amazonas.

The PCIA proposal is structured around strategic axes that cover crucial themes for the region, such as risk management, circular economy, biodiversity preservation, and improvement of health and education services. The actions are made possible through resources from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER-CTE), focusing on projects that promote innovative solutions and cross-border cooperation.