Above: Amiram Magid and Irwin LaRocque (Photo: CARICOM)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Israel now has its first-ever ambassador to the Caribbean Community.

New Israeli Ambassador Amiram Magid presented his credentials to CARICOM Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque this week.

“CARICOM has much to gain and learn from Israel and, as in any meaningful partnership, I am sure that Israel has much to learn from the Caribbean Community,” LaRocque said in remarks on the occasion.

The Secretary General said there were two particular areas in which CARICOM could benefit from a strengthened relationship between the two sides: protected agriculture and water management. He said CARICOM hoped to begin discussions in those areas.

Magid has previously served in seven other Caribbean countries since 2010.

“I very much hope that I will be able to add another dimension to Israel’s engagement with the region,” he said. “I hope to enhance our work in a variety of areas across the political, the commercial and the development of cooperation spheres.”

Israel’s appointment of Magid follows a similar decision by Argentina, which named its first-ever ambassador to CARICOM last month.