Diaspora shows significant interest to invest in Guyana – Foreign Secretary

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said the
diaspora has demonstrated “significant interests” in investing in Guyana. He said thids was
following two high-level government engagements with the diaspora in the tristate area of the
United States of America,.
In a recent National Communications Network (NCN) interview, Persaud recalled the recent
government engagement with the New York diaspora and the Guyanese-American Chamber of
Commerce (GACC). He said that the meeting was led by Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark
Phillips with support from Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira and
Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal. He said that the diaspora was apprised of the business
opportunities in Guyana, as well as visions and plans for each sector of the economy during the
meetings. “There will be greater clarity on the opportunities. How you can do business in
Guyana with ease. There will be a range of opportunities, not only in oil and gas, but also in food
production. Food prices are expected to increase and places like Guyana stand to gain from that
moment. We have the potential to satisfy that demand,” he said.

The Foreign Secretary said that the President has already conducted successful engagements with
the Florida business community, US investors and Central America, among others. He alluded to
this being achieved as part of the government’s promise to enhance diaspora involvement in
Guyana. “As we are bringing in forest investors. It is important that we target the Guyanese
diaspora. We should not ignore this rich resource base that we call the global Guyanese diaspora,
and as much as possible we want to reach out and let them know what the opportunities are,” he
said.
The foreign secretary added that a number of missions have been planned to engage the diaspora.
He stressed that the Guyana-American Chamber of Commerce is already tasked with identifying
other follow-up activities. He pointed out that a slew of investors has submitted proposals to
either set up shop or partner with locations to benefit from business opportunities in Guyana.
“We are serious and we are committed, and these two high – level interactions were just the
recent part of a continuous ongoing programme that will only escalate to ensure that the
Guyanese diaspora is given the opportunity to complement and support, and also to make their
input, whether it is investment or skills in the transformation agenda that is taking place in
Guyana as our economy grows,” Persaud declared.
The foreign secretary said that in the region, the diaspora unit within the Foreign Affairs ministry
has been in discussions with the diaspora in Venezuela, Brazil and the Caribbean on business
opportunities, as well as offer support for natural disasters.