Guyana seeks manufacturing investments
─ President Granger tells US Congressmen and team
─ A number of areas discussed during meet including the geographic overview of Guyana, its hemispheric affiliations, the emerging oil and gas sector and Guyana’s pursuit of a ‘green’ agenda and environmental conservation.
DPI, Guyana, Monday, August 27, 2018
President David Granger told US Congressmen and other officials from the United States during their recent visit that Guyana is seeking investment in the manufacturing sector.
President Granger told the officials,
“Guyana’s economy has largely been distorted by the colonial experience; the over-emphasis on sugar and the involvement of the extractive industries particularly bauxite, manganese, timber, gold and diamonds. These industries despite the wealth and employment they have provided; they have not facilitated manufacturing.”
He pointed out that while manufacturing is still lagging behind in some countries, Guyana looks forward to future investment in those fields as it aims to further develop the local economy. He explained with efforts to facilitate manufacturing in Guyana and with the adverse effects of climate change, the protection of the environment is a priority for the government.
“We can see that our coastal zones are being damaged partly as a result of global warming and we are committed to protecting our rivers, protecting our air quality, protecting our forests. So we were able to explain and convince them of our commitment to protecting the environment even as we go more deeply into the extractive industries,” President Granger recalled of the meeting.
A number of areas were discussed with the focus being on Guyana. These included the geographic overview of Guyana, its hemispheric affiliations and shared borders; a strategic outline on the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy, territorial controversy with Suriname, Guyana’s international relations and the migration of Venezuelans into Guyana; the emerging oil and gas sector and Guyana’s pursuit of a ‘green’ agenda and environmental conservation.
By: Crystal Stoll.
Image: Ministry of the Presidency.