THE Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) has announced that the British Chamber of Commerce Guyana (BritCham) will provide annual funding over the next three years to support the centre’s work under the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA).
This support, according to a press release, is on the basis of a co-operation MoU forged between the Centre and BritCham in 2025.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Iwokrama, Dane Gobin, said “the Centre is grateful to BritCham for this support which will help implement the Centre’s activities under President Ali’s GBA initiative – both the Centre and BritCham are members of the GBA. It is heartening to see the membership of BritCham, mainly involved in the oil and gas industry, recognise the importance of Guyana’s green agenda.
“The Centre has long standing links with the UK as it is the home of the Commonwealth Secretariat, one of the Centre’s founding partners and the Centre’s patron, King Charles III. The Centre remains grateful for the long-standing support from President Ali and the Government of Guyana”.
The partnership is also keen to develop and implement joint initiatives which can include collaboration on social and biological assessments, education and awareness, livelihoods initiatives, research, sustainable forest management and fundraising.
Chairman of BritCham Guyana, Faizal Khan, said: “At BritCham Guyana, we believe economic growth and environmental stewardship must go hand in hand. Guyana has a unique opportunity to demonstrate to the world that a rapidly growing economy can also be a global leader in biodiversity conservation.
“Our three-year commitment to support the Iwokrama Centre and its work under the Global Biodiversity Alliance reflects that belief. While our annual contribution is modest for now, we hope it serves as a catalyst for greater collaboration between the private sector and organisations dedicated to protecting Guyana’s extraordinary natural heritage.
“The United Kingdom has a long and valued relationship with the Iwokrama Centre, and as the British Chamber of Commerce in Guyana, we are proud to strengthen that connection. We look forward to working alongside the Iwokrama Centre, the Government of Guyana and our members to support practical initiatives that promote conservation, scientific research, education and sustainable development for generations to come”.
New British High Commissioner to Guyana, Joseph Fisher, MBE, said: “I warmly welcome the continued strengthening of the partnership between The Iwokrama Centre and the British Chamber of Commerce in Guyana. BritCham’s support for the Centre and its work on the Global Biodiversity Alliance demonstrates how environmental conservation and sustainable economic growth can go hand in hand.
“The UK is proud to have joined the Global Biodiversity Alliance earlier this year, and has deep and long-standing ties with Iwokrama, including through the Centre’s Patron, His Majesty King Charles III. I wish both BritCham and the Iwokrama Centre every success as they continue to build this important collaboration”.
This partnership underscored Guyana’s leadership in biodiversity conservation under the Global Biodiversity Alliance.
