Data centres a meaningful investment for Guyana – President Ali

President Dr. Irfaan Ali says the benefits of establishing data centres in Guyana will far outweigh the costs of building such facilities. He highlighted the significance of current investments in this sector for the country’s future development.

Speaking at the opening of the Soma Hotel and Restaurant over the weekend, President Ali noted that a data centre could cost Guyana a minimum of US$2 to $3 billion. He emphasized that these facilities are essential given the global technological trajectory and Guyana’s energy security.

“Imagine if we have all the data space for all our computing needs and our whole digital platform in Guyana that we don’t have to pay for that, we’ll have it free. Imagine Guyana having a hyper scale data centre that can bring all of the innovation to Guyana; that can create the computing space for the entire region right here in Guyana… and be the sovereign storage space for the entire region…”

President Ali said the government is currently putting in place strategies and opportunities that will become even more critical by 2035. He explained that the data centres necessary for the world to operate in an artificial intelligence (AI), digitization, and computing age will require energy on an unprecedented scale.

Guyana plans to leverage its offshore gas development projects to power these data centres, noting that countries aiming to remain competitive in the future will need these facilities as they invest in AI and digitization.

Data centres are physical facilities that house IT infrastructure such as servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. They process, store, and distribute data, supporting modern digital activities from cloud services and e-commerce to mobile applications and AI technologies.

President Ali added that Guyana is already moving rapidly to integrate technology across sectors, including health care, government services, and other public services, reinforcing the country’s readiness for the digital age.