President Ali calls for bold economic reset, urges deeper Guyana–Trinidad collaboration for shared prosperity

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is calling for a bold reset in regional economic thinking, urging deeper, results-driven collaboration between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to unlock shared prosperity and global competitiveness.

Delivering the feature address at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Annual Business Meeting Outlook 2026/2027 in Port of Spain, the president underscored that the long-standing partnership between the two nations must now evolve into a future-focused alliance grounded in innovation, integration, and strategic investment.

“We are not here to decide whether it is curry chicken or chicken curry, we are here to agree that we must have curry,” President Ali said, using humour to emphasise the need for unity and shared purpose.

The head of state highlighted that the Guyana–Trinidad and Tobago relationship is deeply rooted in history, culture, and trade, from traditional “suitcase trading” to longstanding commercial exchanges, but stressed that the next phase must be anchored in forward-looking policies and competitiveness.

“This partnership cannot be advanced by inefficiency or by systems that delay progress,” he stated, adding that regional economies must be re-engineered to reflect real-world competition and global market conditions.

President Ali emphasised the importance of shifting from inward-looking development strategies to outward-facing, opportunity-driven models. He pointed to untapped potential in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and manufacturing, urging regional stakeholders to leverage capital, natural resources, and expertise to build globally competitive industries.

The president further outlined Guyana’s development trajectory, describing it as an emerging petrostate pursuing aggressive diversification. He noted that revenues from the oil and gas sector are being channelled into expanding non-oil industries, including agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and technology.

Among key initiatives, he highlighted investments in digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and the creation of a modern, efficient public sector to reduce inefficiencies and improve service delivery. He also pointed to Guyana’s leadership in environmental services, including the monetisation of forest carbon credits and the establishment of a global biodiversity alliance.

President Ali stressed that future-proofing regional economies will require sustained investments in innovation, human capital, and infrastructure, as well as the creation of stable, predictable policy environments that inspire investor confidence.

He encouraged Trinidad and Tobago’s private sector to deepen its engagement in Guyana beyond traditional sectors, calling for long-term, transformative investments that can drive regional food security, energy integration, and industrial expansion.

“Protectionism cannot and will not make us successful in the new world,” the president asserted. “The only path forward is competitiveness, integration, and building a common platform that allows our region to thrive both within and beyond our borders.”