France is seeking to intensify its presence in Guyana and from September, there will be a new French diplomatic office in Georgetown.

This was announced by the French Ambassador to Suriname and Guyana, Nicolas de Lacoste at a French National Day reception held at the Black Magenta in Georgetown on Wednesday.

Mr. de Lacoste said this new office will “represent French interests” and signals that France is “stepping up its presence” in Guyana.

He, however, noted, “It’s not an embassy but we will have a permanent diplomatic presence here in Georgetown.”

Though France will become the first European Union (EU) country to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in Guyana, Mr. de Lacoste says existing visa arrangements will not change.

That means Guyanese must still travel to Paramaribo, Suriname to get the Schengen area visas issued to them for short term travel to France or the 26 other European countries in the Schengen area.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador said getting a full-fledged embassy in Guyana depends on the entrance of many more French enterprises and nationals here.