The government of China has agreed to provide Grenada with gratuitous aid of 100 million yuan for mutually agreed-upon projects. This financial support was signed in an agreement for economic and technical cooperation during Grenada’s prime minister’s recent official visit to China, two other government ministers, and several supporting staff.
Although the agreement was signed on January 13, it was disclosed during a special news conference on Thursday attended by China’s Ambassador to Grenada Wei Hongtian.
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“These 100 million Chinese yuan is equivalent to US$13.7,” said Wei as he reiterated that this visit to China was an official visit by the Government of Grenada in observance of the 20th anniversary of both states resuming diplomatic ties.
Since resuming diplomatic relations, China has provided Grenada with millions in grants for capital and social projects.
These include the building of the athletic and cricket stadium, repairs to roads as well as university scholarships and training for hundreds of young professionals.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell who headed the delegation was the first Head of Government to visit China in 2025.
He was accompanied by Ministers Lennox Andrews and Joseph Andall who hold ministerial posts of Economic Development and Foreign Affairs respectively.
“The aid shall be used for implementation of mutually agreed projects,” said the ambassador. The projects that will be covered by that agreement are yet to be disclosed.
“Both sides will set up an apparatus to decide how and when the grant will be distributed,” said the foreign affairs minister who pointed out that Grenada will have to present a plan showing how the money will be utilized.
The financial aid from China is equivalent to EC$40 million.
“This is a significant sum which can go a long way in aiding in the development of Grenada,” said Andall.
Andrews, who is also the minister for agriculture, said an agreement was also signed about a study in the area of agriculture.
“For the past years we have had an MOU in which China will provide agricultural assistance to the Government and people of Grenada, we are now completing the eighth agreement and we are about to sign the ninth agreement,” he said, adding that once that ninth agreement is signed, it will be implemented.
Besides the agreement for financial aid, Grenada signed other documents which were either a memorandum of understanding or a memorandum of agreements and they cover a wide range of areas, including agriculture, energy and the environment, renewable energy, arts, culture and tourism, and the blue economy. (CMC)
