By Ray Chickrie
Kazakhstan, an oil and gas giant and the world 9th largest country is interested in doing business with Guyana, a new emerging oil and gas frontier. On March 4 a delegation from Kazakhstan’s Tree Energy arrived in Guyana for a one-week investment mission.
On Tuesday, Tree Energy delegation met prime minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips, whose portfolio includes the energy sector to explore renewable energy investment opportunities in Guyana according to a Facebook post from the prime minister’s office.
The group also held a meeting with agriculture minister Zulfikar Mustapha who told the delegation that the government is working to transform the production and food-supply chain.
“The government is working with farmers to extend the shelf life of fresh produce, reduce wastage and increase agro-processing through value-added mechanisms,” according to the state owned Guyana Chronicle.
The nature of Tree Energy businesses including renewable energy such as hydro, solar and wind power. The company has investments in Russia, Moldova, Tatarstan and Kyrgyzstan.
“We have an agency, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) that will be procuring additional freezing trucks and cold-storage facilities this year. This is to assist farmers with reducing spoilage of fresh produce. We are also working to help our farmers transport and keep their produce in a better way. The New GMC is also responsible for guiding our agro-processors on how they can transform any surplus produce into value-added commodities. As it relates to your company and the services you offer, there are also a number of remote areas in the country that are earmarked for massive agricultural development and we’ll have to look into facilities to store, process and package these commodities within these regions,” minister Mustapha said.
On March 5, minister of public works, Bishop Juan Edghill met with Green Energy company, Tree Energy, and said on Facebook. “During the team’s discussion to transform Guyana’s energy sector, minister Edghill said he looks forward to doing business with the company.”
“The minister welcomed the delegation to Guyana and urged the company to document their proposals and share with him.”
Kazakhstan and Guyana have established diplomatic ties since 2013 and have appointed respective ambassadors. Both countries are also members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
