GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (DPI) – More than four international delegations will visit Guyana in the coming days, and none of them is chasing oil and gas. They want to invest in tourism, food production, manufacturing and value creation.
This was disclosed by president Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali last Saturday during the commissioning of new aircraft for Jags Aviation at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.
President Ali linked the country’s growing investor profile to years of planning and what he called the discipline to work hard and act collectively.
“The world is discovering a Guyana that is completely different,” he said.
President Ali used the moment to set out how Guyana intends to position itself in the regional economy. The country will not settle for being a buyer of finished goods, he said, but will compete as a producer and price-setter.
The president said he wants more of the goods sold in Guyana to be produced locally and is encouraging regional manufacturers to establish operations in the country. He pointed to the government’s agri-processing incentives, which he said are unmatched elsewhere in the region.
The president added that Region Nine is being positioned as a major agro-processing hub to supply markets in northern Brazil, while emerging opportunities in Haiti and Cuba could provide additional export destinations for investors who move early.
“We cannot go forward without value creation and manufacturing in this country,” he underscored.
Meanwhile, senior minister in the office of the president with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh urged youths to position themselves for Guyana’s economic growth. He also urged young entrepreneurs to position themselves to benefit from the opportunities emerging as Guyana continues its rapid economic transformation.
Addressing participants at the ECONOME V Business Conference at the Four Points by Sheraton in Houston, Dr Singh noted that the country’s growth requires a new generation of business leaders who are prepared to think boldly, innovate and capitalise on emerging opportunities.
Dr Singh commended the organisers for creating a platform that brings together young entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry leaders. He noted that the strong participation reflects the willingness of young Guyanese to build and expand their businesses.
The minister highlighted several areas where opportunities are expected to expand, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, tourism and manufacturing, as Guyana continues its development path. He told the entrepreneurs that understanding the country’s transformation is critical as they make decisions about where to invest and how to grow their businesses.
“This is important for you because you’re entrepreneurs. You’re looking for opportunities. You’re looking to see where the opportunities will lie, what you should invest, how much you should invest and where you should invest,” Dr Singh said.
The senior minister also pointed to Guyana’s economic growth over recent years, including developments in the oil and gas sector, the gas-to-energy project and other major investments that he said will create new avenues for business growth. He encouraged young Guyanese to embrace bold ideas and be ready to play their part in the country’s continued transformation.
“This is the era for us to do things differently, and this is the era for us to be bold,” Dr Singh said.