France Reaffirms Commitment to Deepening Partnership with the OECS

The longstanding partnership between the French Republic and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) entered a new chapter on Friday as Her Excellency Marie-Noëlle Duris, Ambassador of the French Republic to the OECS, formally presented her Letters of Credence to OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules.

The accreditation ceremony reaffirmed France's enduring commitment to regional cooperation and highlighted new opportunities to deepen collaboration in areas including climate resilience, environmental sustainability, education, agriculture, public health, regional connectivity and innovation.

In presenting her credentials, Ambassador Duris described the Eastern Caribbean as a unique region for France, noting that nearly 800,000 French nationals living in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin share close geographical, historical and cultural ties with their Caribbean neighbours.

"The challenges we face, climate change, organised crime and demographic change, require collective responses. The OECS is a key partner in regional cooperation, and I am committed throughout my mission to further strengthening our collaboration in all areas where we can work together," Ambassador Duris said.

The Ambassador also reaffirmed France's continued support through the French Embassy, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Expertise France and the European Union, highlighting a growing portfolio of regional initiatives, including the Resilient Ecosystems Through Mangrove Restoration (REMAR) Project, designed to deliver tangible benefits across the Eastern Caribbean.

Welcoming Ambassador Duris to the OECS family, Director General Dr. Didacus Jules said the relationship between France and the OECS extends far beyond diplomacy.

"France occupies a special place within our regional community. Through Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin, our relationship is rooted not only in geography and history, but also in a shared vision for regional integration, resilience and sustainable development."

Dr. Jules acknowledged France as one of the OECS' most valued development partners, recognising its longstanding support in disaster resilience, environmental sustainability, public health, maritime governance, education, regional security and scientific cooperation.

He highlighted recent collaboration on innovative Sargassum management solutions through technical exchanges in the French territories, as well as partnerships that continue to strengthen the region's capacity to respond to climate change and other shared challenges.

The Director General also pointed to growing cooperation in innovation and technology, including the French Caribbean Innovation Days initiative, which has connected entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and policymakers from the Caribbean, Europe and Africa to advance artificial intelligence, technology transfer and sustainable economic development.

Following the accreditation ceremony, a few OECS staff joined Ambassador Duris and Dr. Jules in discussions on expanding practical cooperation between France and the OECS. Priority areas identified included strengthening French language education through teacher training and cultural exchanges; expanding agricultural cooperation to support soil health, organic farming and agricultural exports; improving regional health collaboration; increasing technical exchanges and staff development opportunities; and advancing regional air and maritime connectivity to facilitate trade, tourism and the movement of people.

The discussions also explored opportunities to enhance youth exchanges and educational mobility throughout the region, further strengthening people-to-people connections between OECS Member States and the French territories.

Representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to the OECS, including Brazil and Canada, joined the ceremony and congratulated Ambassador Duris on her accreditation while reaffirming their support for continued regional cooperation.

The accreditation marks another milestone in the enduring partnership between the OECS and the French Republic as both sides continue working together to advance sustainable development, regional integration and shared prosperity for the peoples of the Eastern Caribbean.