–Indian High Commission says
A NEW chapter in India-Guyana cooperation began, as an Indian Air Force (IAF) team arrived in Guyana to deliver two HAL-228-201 aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).
According to the Indian High Commission, the aircraft are being provided under a Line of Credit (LOC) extended by India to Guyana for which an agreement was signed on March 15 2024.

High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, underscored the unique relationship between India and Guyana as he interacted with IAF and HAL officials.
The aircraft to be operated by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will also provide connectivity to remote areas and can be used for wide range of functions including medical evacuation, disaster response, among other things.

To bolster the capabilities of the GDF, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni K. Singh, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, had signed the LOC Agreement of US$23.27 million, with the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank), for the procurement of the two aircraft.

Dr. Singh, while delivering remarks, placed on record the government’s great appreciation of India’s unwavering support to Guyana, and alluded to the two countries’ long-standing relationship grounded in history, people, and culture, and, in more recent times, economic and commercial cooperation, the release added.

The Finance Minister said too: “We want to see more Indian companies doing business in Guyana. We are open to companies from around the world, including of course India, and India is amongst the economies that are at the cutting edge of technology, and we want to receive the benefit of that cutting edge technology.”

In reiterating the government’s commitment to bolstering the country’s security sector, he had related that the government was investing heavily in strengthening the capabilities of the GDF, in particular, in some of its specialised wings, such as the Air Corps and the Coast Guard.

He further said that the purchase of the two aircraft was part of the biggest ever investment in the capitalisation of the force thus far.
Guyana and India established diplomatic relations on May 26, 1966, and continue to have a robust developmental cooperation programme aimed towards the mutual benefit of both countries.