GUYANA and Suriname are expected to advance discussions on energy, natural resources and critical infrastructure when officials from the neighbouring countries meet again soon under their bilateral cooperation framework, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said.
During a recent sit-down interview with News Room, President Ali disclosed that the next meeting between the two countries is expected to be held in Guyana, as both sides seek to advance discussions across several areas of mutual interest.
“We have a framework that is guiding our conversation with Suriname. The next meeting is supposed to be in Guyana, so we are hoping that the Suriname Government will be at the next meeting,” the President said.
He noted that the date is still to be finalised, but said the engagement would provide an opportunity to move discussions forward in several key areas.
“We can finalise the date for that meeting, and advance some of these discussions, not only on energy and natural resources, but on environmental services, biodiversity services, the bauxite, and of course critical infrastructure for connectivity,” President Ali said, adding:
“These are key elements of the Guyana-Suriname joint platform.”
The anticipated engagement builds on ongoing efforts by the two South American neighbours to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly as both countries expand their respective energy sectors.
Guyana and Suriname have already identified energy security as an important area for cooperation.
During talks between President Ali and Surinamese President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons in Nieuw Nickerie in September 2025, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in oil and gas, renewable energy, and electricity interconnection.
They also committed to exploring joint ventures, investment opportunities, and knowledge-sharing arrangements aimed at advancing their respective energy agendas, and strengthening regional energy resilience.
Those discussions have continued into 2026. In February, the two leaders advanced talks on energy and food security, as well as on cooperation to improve regional connectivity during a meeting on the sidelines of the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis.
President Ali has also been pushing for closer collaboration with Suriname, as Guyana develops plans for another major gas project in Berbice.
Earlier this year, he said Guyana was examining whether Suriname could eventually feed gas into infrastructure being contemplated for the Berbice project, which could significantly increase the scale of the development, and create additional downstream opportunities.
The Government has been positioning Berbice as another major industrial and energy zone, with plans for gas-based development and supporting infrastructure.
During the News Room interview, President Ali also reaffirmed the Government’s intention to move ahead with a deep-water port.
“We are going ahead with the [deepwater] port. So, that’s without a doubt,” the President said.
The deep-water port forms part of the wider infrastructure being contemplated to support industrial expansion and Guyana’s ambitions to become a larger regional energy and logistics hub.
Connectivity between Guyana and Suriname also remains on the bilateral agenda. The two governments have been discussing the proposed Corentyne River Bridge, which is intended to strengthen trade, tourism and movement between the countries while supporting wider connectivity with South America.
President Ali reiterated in July that Guyana continues to regard the bridge as a joint project between the two countries.
The wider Guyana-Suriname cooperation framework, however, extends beyond physical infrastructure and energy. President Ali’s latest comments point to environmental and biodiversity services, bauxite and natural resources as areas expected to feature in the next round of discussions as the two countries seek to deepen economic and strategic cooperation.