Guyana positioned as gateway to 400 million consumers, days Dr Ramsaroop

Guyana’s Chief Investment Officer, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, says the country’s rising investment profile should be viewed not in isolation but as part of a dynamic regional growth corridor linking South America and the Caribbean.

Delivering the keynote address at the recently concluded International Business Conference (IBC) 2025, Dr Ramsaroop highlighted Guyana’s geographic and economic advantages as the foundation for long-term investor confidence.

He said that while some potential investors still see Guyana as a small market, the reality is that it serves as a gateway to more than 400 million consumers across Latin America and the Caribbean.

“A lot of time we hear from investors well Guyana is not big enough for me to invest significantly but you cannot look at Guyana alone,” Dr Ramsaroop explained.

“From northern Brazil, which is landlocked, it takes about seven days to move goods in and out. We are building deepwater ports and the road to Brazil is on its way. That’s 18 million people in northern Brazil alone. Then there’s Guyana… Suriname… and French Guiana. Then you get to the wider Caribbean, and then you look at our trade agreements with Latin America … Investing in Guyana is about our accessibility to the wider world,” he added.

Following his remarks, a panel discussion titled “How to Start and Scale a Business in Guyana” provided practical guidance for entrepreneurs and investors navigating the local business landscape.

Executive Director of the Private Sector Commission, Nayteram Ramnarine, assured participants that Guyana’s private sector stands ready to guide international investors through the process of doing business in the country.

“Coming into Guyana the structure may be complex and understanding the labour laws, the tax regulations, these are all things we assist with,” Mr Ramnarine noted.

“We serve as a navigational co-pilot for investors. We don’t just offer a grand welcome, we provide structured orientation, identify incentives, highlight potential pitfalls, and serve as an issue-resolution channel,” he added.

He said the commission advocates on behalf of businesses, ensuring that they are connected with the right people at the right time.

The session underscored the growing collaboration between the private sector, government agencies, and regional partners to foster a more seamless and investor-friendly business environment.