President Ali unveils ambitious plan to transform Guyana into energy and trade hub

The Guyana government is harnessing its expanding oil and gas industries to drive socio-economic development and long-term national opportunities, President Irfaan Ali said Tuesday.

Speaking at the fifth Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo, Ali told regional and international delegates that Guyana is working with partners from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and the United States to build “the most transformative infrastructure for tomorrow’s future.” The three-day event, held under the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Future Today,” brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore developments in energy and supply chains.

Ali highlighted the construction of a deep-water port that will link Brazil and CARICOM, positioning Guyana as a regional transport and logistics hub. “This creates an ecosystem that generates high-paying jobs, fosters industrialisation, manufacturing, and accelerates the productive sector,” he said.

The President also emphasized value addition in key sectors, citing bauxite as an example. “The future requires us to move beyond exporting raw materials and to leverage our energy advantage to diversify and integrate our economy globally,” Ali said. He added that the government is strengthening national energy security through new plants and projects, including the 165-megawatt Amalia Falls Hydroelectric project, aiming for both domestic supply and regional energy exports.

Beyond energy, Guyana is seeking to boost food security through strategic partnerships. In July 2025, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with US-based Blumberg Grain to develop a food hub at Yarrowkabra, aimed at expanding agricultural exports and improving CARICOM trade through modern storage and processing facilities. Ali stressed the importance of international partnerships, particularly from the Middle East, in financing and supporting these initiatives.

He also announced plans to deploy a new digital payment system, expected to modernize monetary transactions across the country. “We can now have digital wallets and digital payment platforms. That will be the new standard,” Ali said, noting that the Bank of Guyana and two commercial banks are ready to implement the system.

The conference includes workshops, panel discussions, and networking events, offering participants opportunities to engage directly with peers and experts, while fostering forward-looking discussions to strengthen Guyana’s position in the global energy and logistics landscape.