-as CEAPI eyes deeper ties, highlights Guyana as  growing investment destination

A HIGH-LEVEL visit by the Business Alliance of Ibero-America (CEAPI), which represents over 190 leaders from major Ibero-American and Spanish companies, aims to place Guyana firmly on the radar of global investors, with an invitation extended to Dr President Irfaan Ali to participate in a major international congress in Mexico in May.

The engagement, which included direct talks with President Ali, not only highlighted Guyana’s economic transformation but signalled growing interest from European and Latin American businesses eager to tap into what visitors described as one of the world’s most promising emerging markets.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Nuria Vilanova, President of CEAPI, and José Rafael Gomez, Co-chairman of Excel Guyana Inc and Coordinator of the visit to Guyana, said that Guyana is a vibrant investment opportunity, with growth across sectors. CEAPI hopes to show Guyana, and its vast investment potential, to the rest of the world.

Calling the meeting with the Head of State an amazing opportunity, Vilanova said that Wednesday’s engagement highlighted the vision and opportunities present in Guyana.

She also emphasised the importance of leadership and commitment in Guyana’s continuous development.

Sharing insight into the meeting, Vilanova said that the work of the Head of State has been particularly impressive and will continue to have a positive impact on Guyana’s growth, adding, “This is a great opportunity for the country to have a president, who is also into entrepreneurship. He has a clear vision of how to make it a reality, the opportunities of the country.”

She further added that the rest of the visiting convoy, too, was impressed with the President’s clear vision and robust plans for the country’s next steps, adding, “Our impression, all the people who are in this mission, are very impressive. He expressed his intentions and commitment to the development of this country.”

To this end, the Head of State has been asked to represent Guyana at the association’s congress in Mexico later this year. As Vilanova highlighted, the congress will include national leaders as well as industry leaders and business moguls from Spain, Portugal and the wider Latin America. “We invited the President to join us in Mexico. This association is an association of the most important companies in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. In Mexico, we will have the number one companies of different countries of Latin America,” she added, noting that this event would give companies across the wider Latin American landscape an opportunity to learn about Guyana, as she added, “It could be a great opportunity for Guyana to have more investors in the country.”

José Rafael Gomez, Co-chairman of Excel Guyana Inc and Coordinator of the visit to Guyana, said that Guyana has been among the highlights in the team’s visits to several countries.

Emphasising the impact of the congress, he shared that the event is slated to feature some 400 businessmen and businesswomen from around the world. Moreover, the move comes as Guyana continues to see more interest from Latin America than ever before. “Day to day, we see more companies from different countries of Latin America, especially Colombia, Panama, and other countries here.”

Highlighting the intention of CEAPI in the Guyanese business landscape, Gomez said adding, “That intention through CEAPI is [to] open a new window to show this country to the world.”

As the Co-chairman for the Guyanese company Excel Guyana Inc., Gomez is no stranger to the Guyanese business landscape.

Speaking on the business and investment capacity present in Guyana across sectors, Gomez said that the country’s potential is enormous, with lucrative avenues existing both in and beyond oil and gas.

As he further shared, “Guyana has enormous potential, especially for[the] private sector, because so many opportunities that do not even relate to oil and gas. Especially the quality of life, entertainment, and so many new things the country, there is a need to invest,” the next step, he added, and what the congress will facilitate, is to show Guyana to the rest of the world, adding, “This organisation will open the eyes of the world to the secret of Guyana.”

As CEAPI aims to continue to bolster relations with Guyana, Vilanova said the agency’s goals are to help Guyana access the wider Latin American market while connecting companies with the opportunities available in Guyana.

Moreover, Vilanova shared that the move would create a collaborative opportunity to build relations with many of Guyana’s Latin American neighbours.

As Vilanova added, “Guyana is a secret for the world, but it is an amazing secret. We want to help  people know more about Guyana and to invest in the country.”

The support and attention of international bodies like CEAPI reinforces not just Guyana’s potential, but the real, tangible steps being taken towards sustainable development.