–during Guyana Diaspora Sustainability and Investment Conference 2023

OBSERVED under the theme, “Securing Guyana’s future through diaspora engagement,” this year’s Guyana Diaspora Sustainability and Investment Conference 2023 (GDSIC2023) was held on Saturday, 18 and Sunday, 29.
The conference was orchestrated by Henley Caribbean Sustainable Ventures Ltd., occurring at the esteemed Kensington Town Hall situated on Hornton St in London.

The conference aimed to assemble a multitude of professionals. Among them were a diverse group of individuals including entrepreneurs, academics, and several policymakers from Guyana. The main objective of the event was to discuss strategies that could aid in leveraging potential for sustainable development and investment in Guyana. The conference also addressed the topic of cultivating collaboration, exchanging insights, and examining opportunities to utilize the skills and resources of the diaspora to contribute to Guyana’s economic and social development.

Among those to take the floor was long standing media professional Alex Graham, managing director of Tagman Media. Mr Graham briefly outlined the general purpose of the conference.

He was followed closely by conference Chairman, David F Roberts. In his address Chairman Roberts stated the mission of GDSIC, “Is to be the quintessential source for cultural enrichment where we preserve and propagate our heritage; economic impact through trade and investment initiatives; diplomatic influence where we can assist in building bridges between Guyana and the UK thereby fostering diplomatic ties and understanding; and knowledge exchange where we will, through our partners, exchange knowledge and expertise thereby contributing to innovation, education and professional networks in Guyana.”

Among the issues discussed was that of Investment Opportunities in Guyana. This area was undertaken by the Government of Guyana’s Chief Investment Officer, with the Office of the President, Dr Peter Ramsaroop who’s presentation was complemented by Dr Rosh Khan.

Separately, they presented on the current economic landscape, highlighting sectors with potential for growth and investment. Discussions included agriculture, education, renewable energy, technology, and infrastructure. Youth Engagement was also emphasized. Recognizing the importance of involving the younger generation, specific sessions focused on youth empowerment, education, and creating platforms for youth to contribute to the development agenda.

Diaspora Engagement Strategies where also touched on by Head of Diaspora Unit, Ms Rosalinda Rasul.
She shared many examples of diaspora initiatives and the challenges some have experienced. She professed the department’s commitment to serve the global diaspora to increase engagement and thereby applauded the GDSIC initiative.

Ms Rasul is open to exploring effective ways to engage the diaspora, to discuss initiatives that encourage involvement in economic development, education, and healthcare. The importance of building strong networks and communication channels was emphasized.

Ms Rasul later expressed her gratitude for the initiative and gave her commitment to work with GDSIC to produce another relevant and impactful GDSIC2024 thereby creating an enabling environment for diaspora engagement in the United Kingdom.

Successful Diaspora Initiatives were discussed and case studies were presented showcasing successful projects initiated by the diaspora. These included business ventures, community development projects, and philanthropic efforts. Networking Opportunities was also a topic brought to light by the conference.

The conference provided ample networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect, share experiences, and explore potential collaborations. Business matchmaking sessions facilitated discussions between diaspora members and local entrepreneurs.

The conference was dubbed as a success as various recommendation were made. Among them was establishing a task force or committee to include select members of the audience with specialised skills who expressed an interest in supporting the team to follow up on the actions and initiatives discussed during the conference. Facilitation of ongoing communication channels between the government, diaspora, and local stakeholders to ensure a sustained collaborative effort was also recommended.

And the development of a strategy to encourage Indo Guyanese to embrace the concept of the Guyana Diaspora Sustainability & Investment Conference and participate

True to its vision, the conference also served to establish some key connections. Dr Peter Ramsaroop was introduced to London Stock Exchange Group, Sustainable Finance & Investment Strategy Director, Mr Ibukun Adebayo who is keen to work with the Government of Guyana to assist with improving the country’s international credit profile. Mr Alex Graham was introduced to Agri Ledger director Ms Genevieve Leveille with a view of entering into a MOU regarding collaborating on a unique agricultural project under the Tagman Agribusiness aimed at developing new agricultural services in Guyana and the Caribbean.

And a member of the audience representing a UK private company has offered to enter into a strategic partnership with a well-connected private company based in Guyana for the development and delivery of a hydroelectric plant to mitigate some of Guyana’s electricity problems.