– President Ali tells Canada-Guyana forum
– notes country positioning itself as regional hub for data centres, digital services

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali says Guyana is rapidly advancing an ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) and digitisation agenda, all aimed at transforming government services, modernising infrastructure, and positioning the country as a hub for digital investment and data services.
The Head of State was at the time speaking during a recent Canada-Guyana business forum, where he noted that the government has already integrated AI into several sectors and is pursuing a comprehensive strategy to improve efficiency across public services.
“We have advanced in AI at a speed unimaginable in Guyana,” Dr Ali said.
He stated that the country’s digitisation strategy is designed to minimise human interface in government systems while embedding AI-driven processes throughout public administration.
“Everything that we are doing is to remove human interface as far as possible and to build AI backbone in every level of service,” the President stated.
Against this backdrop, he disclosed that the use of AI now extends from immigration and tourism services to national security, defence and healthcare systems.
The President stated that countries cannot afford to delay technological development while waiting for complete regulatory frameworks to be established.
“The problem is that you cannot build out an AI infrastructure and strategy while waiting on all of the guardrails to be put in place.”
According to the President, Guyana intends to use AI and advanced technology to “leap progress into the future” while simultaneously creating new investment opportunities tied to the country’s growing energy capacity.
As such, the president noted that Guyana is already positioning itself as a destination for hyperscale data centres and related digital infrastructure.
He noted that major international players in the data centre and AI industries recently participated in the Berbice Business Summit hosted in Guyana.
With this, he disclosed that a local partnership is currently working on a proof-of-concept project that could pave the way for Guyana’s emergence as a data centre hub.
“We see Guyana as a destination in the infrastructure and ecosystem and economy of AI,” he said.
The President also spoke on the government’s ongoing digital transformation in the healthcare sector, revealing that several technology-driven systems are already being rolled out nationwide.
These include the Patient Management Information System, the Healthcare Information System, a healthcare appointment platform and an Emergency Medical Services management system that incorporates AI-driven features.
US-based healthcare institutions, Mount Sinai Health System and Northwell Health, he noted, are assisting with implementation, while Apollo Hospitals is also collaborating with Guyana on healthcare technology initiatives.
“We are leapfrogging at a speed that is unbelievable,” Ali declared.
Further to this, President Ali said the government is finalising a national fintech implementation plan that includes a national payment system and digital wallet infrastructure.
He added that customs and border operations are also being modernised through technology aimed at reducing inefficiencies and limiting human bias in administrative processes.
Meanwhile, President Ali encouraged Canadian investors to participate in Guyana’s expanding technology and infrastructure sectors, while also highlighting other opportunities in energy, logistics and public infrastructure.