Digitisation efforts making investments in Guyana easier -  President tells Houston crowd

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali says an ongoing digital transformation of key services is making the country an easier place to do business, as the government looks to attract more investors to its growing economy.

The President highlighted some of the key investment opportunities in Guyana— from tourism ventures to expanding the downstream sector of the petroleum industry—at a US-Guyana Business Exchange reception held in Houston, Texas, on Monday night. 

However, noted that some investors approach him directly seeking an audience or concessions such as land subsidies before doing any groundwork. Though the President assured investors that Guyana is welcoming, he stressed that business players must put in the work— scope out opportunities, do their feasibility studies, and connect with local partners. 

The role of government, he said, is to make concrete investments seamless. 

“How do we build the system to allow you to have a seamless journey with your investment? How do you use technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and all the available tools that take away human biases that allow you to make a confident decision and allow you a seamless journey to that path? 

“Here is where the work of policy, the work of government and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO Invest) comes into play,” President Ali said. 

One example of that digital push is the Central Housing and Planning Authority's Single Window Platform. This platform is the sole point of entry for all planning and development applications, that allows applicants to submit documents and track the progress of their applications.

GO Invest also has a renewed mandate to work directly with investors, supporting them as they navigate the country’s regulatory framework and helping them to access various tax incentives available. 

With its digital infrastructure expanding and GO Invest playing a more active role in supporting  investors through the process, President Ali posited that Guyana is positioning itself as an attractive but serious destination for business — provided investors arrive prepared to do the groundwork.

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