GUYANA is open for business, that much is clear. There has been no shortage of engagements between Guyanese officials and business delegations from other countries. And a visit from India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and a business delegation is only the most recent engagement.

Over the past several years, India has demonstrated considerable interest in Guyana, particularly in the oil sector. The country has been seeking a long-term oil supply deal, though it has bought at least one consignment of oil produced in Guyana.

Additionally, Indian companies, for years, invested in Guyana. Now, however, the country seems intent on further business cooperation in several other productive sectors, such as agriculture or infrastructure development.

What’s interesting about India- at least for me- is that India is a global south, developing nation that is pushing itself as a global leader. It now has the world’s largest population, which means that its leadership is tasked with improving the well-being of an enormous number of people.

Like a daily mantra, every Indian official I met during my recent trip to India described the South- Asian nation as a developing country “impatient” about its development. That means the government is keen on implementing measures that will allow it to quicken its growth, including implementing digital reforms and welfare schemes while building new, much-needed infrastructure. These efforts are apparent in India.

Despite the foregoing, India is plagued by substantial challenges. In Mumbai and Delhi, the two cities I visited, skyscrapers tower over slums, signalling housing and living inequalities. The air quality in some places poses a threat to health and colourism, racism and creedism are not ills that have been eradicated, and poverty persists.

India and its challenges are not unlike Guyana and many countries. Still, the country is trying to position itself as a global force. And on an economic front, if nothing else, it seems to be succeeding. It is no surprise that the country takes a lot of pride in its presidency of the G20 this year, but this is just a part of the country’s development.

Others agree.

“Within this shifting global landscape, India has the opportunity to put in place a new framework for its own security, growth and development, and that of developing countries around the world. As a rising global power, this must be India’s principal endeavour in the coming decades,” the World Economic Forum wrote in 2018.

Now, about five years later, the country continues to record substantial growth in the face of global uncertainties.

According to an April World Bank report, the Indian economy demonstrates resilience despite global challenges. Economic growth in the country this year is pegged at 6.9 per cent for the full year with real GDP growing 7.7 percent year-on-year during the first three quarters of fiscal year 2022/23.

Because of its prowess in several productive sectors (but especially manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture), India is believed to be a good partner for Guyana. And Guyanese officials have openly called on Indian companies to invest more here while Guyana seeks to deepen its bilateral ties with the state.

I can’t speak on the benefits or disadvantages of a deeper partnership with India beyond what government officials have said publicly. I do think that Guyana can learn from India.

Both developing countries hope to provide global leadership and are benefitting from substantial economic growth necessary for their populations’ development.

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