Guyana, Brazil strengthen agri, cross-border trade collaboration

Discussions between Guyana, the Agriculture Department of Roraima, Brazil, and Sebrae (Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service) last Thursday, further deepened collaboration efforts between Guyana and Brazil, particularly in the agricultural sector and cross-border trade.

This is according to Rubeina Khan Nickram, Public Relations/Education Director of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), who noted that the meetings focused on identifying actionable opportunities for bilateral trade, leveraging Brazil’s strengths in agribusiness and Guyana’s growing economic potential.
Dr Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), played a central role in urging Brazilian business leaders to seize the opportunities presented by Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy. Dr Ramsaroop further emphasised that the time for Brazilian businesses to engage with Guyana is now—not just as trade partners, but as investors, collaborators, and industry pioneers.
He highlighted Guyana’s openness to Brazilian expertise and capital across sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, energy, infrastructure, and technology.
His message reinforced that business-to-business (B2B) relationships are critical to unlocking the full potential of bilateral trade, particularly as Guyana positions itself as a regional hub for innovation and sustainable development.
Agricultural trade opportunities, logistics and infrastructure, and strategic importance were key focus areas of discussions, the RCCI noted.
Brazil’s Roraima State agriculture department highlighted “exportable goods” such as soybeans, beef, poultry, dairy products, agricultural machinery, and processed foods, as Guyana expressed interest in accessing Brazilian agricultural inputs (e.g., fertilisers, seeds) and technology, to boost its own farming sector.
Both sides stressed the need for improved cargo transit routes between Lethem and Boa Vista, including faster customs clearance and reduced bureaucratic hurdles.
Completion of the Georgetown to Lethem Road and potential rail links were reiterated as critical for boosting trade volumes.
These talks, the RCCI highlighted, align with broader efforts to transform Guyana into a hub for larger agricultural production and regional trade, by addressing logistical bottlenecks and fostering technical cooperation.
The upcoming Roraima Agriculture Fair in November will serve as a platform to showcase these synergies, with Guyanese businesses invited to attend and explore partnerships, the RCCI revealed.
It added that this phase of discussions underscores a pragmatic shift from dialogue to actionable projects, with Sebrae and Roraima’s agricultural authorities playing pivotal roles in bridging gaps between policy and implementation.
The two day meeting, RCCI stated, concluded with fruitful discussions, as the forum facilitated direct engagement between Guyanese officials, entrepreneurs and Brazilian private-sector leaders, enabling discussions on joint ventures, supply chain integration, and market access.
The Guyanese delegation also included Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud; Senior Director of GO-Invest, John Edghill; Mayor of Lethem, John Macedo; Rodger King, Guyana Brazil Consulate; President of the Regional Chamber of RCCI, Orlando Wong; PR/Education Director, Rubeina Khan Nickram; and other officials from GO-Invest and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The delegation held further meetings with Brazilian state officials, including discussions at the Governor’s Palace in Boa Vista, Roraima, and in Manaus, Amazonas State.