Guyana is geographically well placed, strategically positioned and provides a critical link between South America and the Caribbean and therefore, presents outstanding business opportunities for partnerships and investments.

This is according to Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali, who was at the time addressing overseas delegates of GuyExpo 2012.
As part of its new mandate, the GuyExpo 2012 Committee hosted a Business Forum at the International Conference Centre last Friday.
The forum brought together Government, the Private Sector and overseas investors, with the sole aim of discussing Guyana’s investment climate and business opportunities with potential investors from the Caribbean, USA and Canada.
The minister pointed to a number of ventures already taking off in Guyana, including the expansion of the CJIA and by extension, the aviation industry here; British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Fly Jamaica, Air Canada and Jet Blue are presently in discussions to begin landing here. Upon CJIA’s expansion completion, it is expected that it will become the critical link between Guyana, South America and Africa.
He pointed to the diversification of the agriculture industry and said, “We have nine mega farms with foreign investors, one of which is already signed for 100,000 hectares of land, with a Malaysian company; we also have nine other such investment proposals under review for the production of specifically targeted crops like spices, soya bean, corn and selected fruits and vegetables.”
The minister also spoke highly of the untapped potentials of tourism which he hopes will compete with the rest of the Caribbean within three years and overtake within five years, oil and gas, and Guyana’s infrastructural expansions in road, bridges, and the housing sector.
He added too that his government is involved in “transformative projects” which will see the establishment of a road network from Linden to Lethem linked to a deep water harbour in Guyana.
Minister Ali said, “We are working on a feasibility study for a new Demerara Harbour Bridge, hopefully a high rise bridge; and we have just completed the study for the repaving and expansion of the West Demerara Highway, the expansion of the East Coast Highway and we have started work on the continuation of the East Bank Highway, all the way to the airport, which will see the completion of that entire corridor.”
The highlight of his remarks, though, was a video presentation of a housing project estimated to cost some US250M set to begin shortly. This project will see the linking of the East Bank and East Coast and is to be completed in 5 years.
Speaking on behalf of the Private Sector, President of Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI), Clinton Urling told the participants, “We are sending a very strong message to businesses and countries around the globe that Guyana isn’t just open for business, but Guyana can be one of the best places to succeed in business.”
He also spoke of “emerging opportunities” within Guyana, which, according to him, are “supported by the National Competitiveness Strategy which presents a robust blueprint for the economy.”
Urling also underscored the steady economic growth of 5% over the past 6 years and the projected growth too for the rest of the year, and a strong financial sector which has been unaffected by the global financial crisis which he attributed to prudent financial management by the government.
Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, David Devine, who spoke at the invitation of Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali, said “Canada stands as a ready partner in Guyana.” He added that he wants, “…to see the potential for business that exists between Guyana and Canada become a reality for both countries.”
He also outlined areas in which Canada is presently partnering with Guyana, namely oil, gas, mining and tourism.
President of Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association (GMSA), Mohindra Chand, in his remarks, said “…our most valuable asset is our human resource, which is both affordable and trainable when compared internationally.”
He added that Guyana’s geographical location and social conditions offer very convenient access into the continent of South America from the Atlantic Ocean, and as the only English-speaking nation on the continent; it possess road and water transportation networks along the coast and cross country, with ready business linkages with some South American countries including Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname and Colombia, and unfettered access in terms of trade routes to the islands of the Caribbean, to North America, Europe, and further east to Asia and the Pacific states.”
According to Mr. Chand, “Guyana has been able to maintain stability and predictability in the macro-economic environment, in the real rates of currency exchange, and in inflation, which by themselves present a favourable investment climate. Our country’s national development is guided by a defined National Competitiveness Strategy Policy that was crafted with direct inputs from the Private Sector, and backed by the requisite regulatory and legal frameworks. This policy speaks to diversification in production, and integration with the Caribbean Single Market Economy, the CSME.”
The Forum was also addressed by the Vice Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Suriname Wilgo Bilkerdjik ; Managing Director of Advertising and Marketing Services (AMS) Lokesh Singh; Kwame Gittens, member of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Florida; and Bali Singh, President of Canada – Caribbean Business Council.