Above: Guyanaese President Donald Ramotar, Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (UN Photos/Brian Schneider and Mark Garten)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

A series of countries, including South Korea, Algeria and Japan have expressed their congratulations to Donald Ramotar on winning the presidency in Guyana, with South Korea in particular looking to improve relations between the two countries.

Guyana’s government brokered two deals with Korean investors in 2010 after former President Bharrat Jagdeo visited Seoul for the Business for the Environment Summit in 2010.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said he hoped that cooperation between the two countries would be strengthened in the years ahead.

Japan, too, is strengthening its relations with Guyana, partnering with the country to fortify the banks of the East Demerara Water Conservancy, which has led to a new $7.4 million water treatment plant at Queenstown, which is reportedly benefiting 12,000 residents.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in a letter to Ramotar that his government remained firmly committed to promoting friendly and cooperative relations with Guyana.