–at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa

AT the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore engaged in a high-level discussion that highlighted the rapidly growing partnership between their two nations.

The dialogue centered on four key areas reflecting their shared priorities in economic development and global sustainability.
According to information from the Office of the President, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing collaboration in carbon markets, an area where both Guyana and Singapore are recognised as global leaders.

They discussed strategies for enhancing international frameworks for carbon trading, and emphasised the potential for their countries to serve as models in balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship.
The conversation also delved into low- carbon development, a significant theme during Guyana’s participation in CHOGM.

President Ali and Prime Minister Wong also explored opportunities for cooperation in sustainable urban development, sharing insights on how to integrate ‘green’ technologies and effective urban planning to foster environmentally-friendly and resilient cities.
President Ali took the opportunity to update Prime Minister Wong on Guyana’s ambitious plans to establish a Global Biodiversity Alliance. This initiative seeks to unite nations and organisations in a collective commitment to preserving biodiversity, acknowledging its vital role in ecological balance and climate change mitigation.

Additionally, the leaders discussed ongoing collaborations in the oil-and-gas sector, noting that Guyana’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels are manufactured in Singapore, involving numerous Singaporean companies in the supply chain.
They explored avenues to expand this collaboration into other sectors, and considered how Singapore might leverage Guyana as a base for broader regional expansion, particularly within the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

This meeting underscored the strong ties between Guyana and Singapore, with both countries positioned as leaders in economic development and environmental sustainability.
The leaders expressed enthusiasm for building on these discussions to further strengthen bilateral relations and promote a shared vision for sustainable growth.