EU-Guyana mission explores cooperation in agriculture, trade and value-chain upgrades on day 2

The Guyana delegation has officially arrived in Belgium for day three of the inaugural Global Gateway European Union (EU)–Guyana Mission, beginning a full day of substantive and productive engagements. On Tuesday, the delegation engaged in a high-level meeting with representatives of the European Commission, in a session jointly chaired by the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) and the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI).
Discussions focused on deepening cooperation between the EU and Guyana in key areas such as sustainable development, agriculture, trade facilitation and value-chain modernisation. The dialogue provided a valuable platform for presenting Guyana’s current priorities, reforms and investment opportunities. EU partners also outlined existing collaboration frameworks and upcoming programmes aligned with Guyana’s development goals.
Guyana underscored the importance of greater private sector involvement through investment, technology transfer, joint ventures and market-building partnerships to accelerate economic diversification and unlock the full potential of existing and emerging value chains. Both sides agreed on the need to strengthen technical and institutional cooperation, enhance market access, and ensure future initiatives advance shared sustainability objectives. Later, at the EU Headquarters in Brussels, the delegation held promising discussions with selected European players in ports, logistics, and agro-processing. A special highlight was a lunch hosted by the Embassy of Sweden, where the delegation was introduced to cutting-edge Swedish technology from Siemens Energy, Candela and Berg Propulsion.
This was followed by presentations on the EU Caribbean Strategy for Ports, with participation from major industry leaders including Jan De Nul, Boskalis, and key European associations in ports, dredging and cruise lines. The final engagement was with the Belgian Chamber of Commerce who facilitated connections between Guyanese and Belgian companies and new commercial possibilities. The Delegation will continue its study tour to the Ports of Antwerp, Belgium, and Rotterdam, Netherlands. On Monday, the investment mission in Europe completed its first leg in France, with Chief Investment Officer and newly appointed Member of Parliament, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, describing the engagements as a strong launch to the eight-day tour. The EU-Guyana Global Gateway Study Tour, which brings together senior Government officials and leaders from the private sector, is aimed at deepening trade, logistics and agro-processing partnerships with some of Europe’s most advanced institutions. The delegation’s work in France saw high-level interactions in Paris and Marseille, where members studied Europe’s leading port, logistics and digital transport systems. These included meetings with HAROPA Port at the Port of Gennevilliers, a detailed tour of the Port of Fos-Marseille and its eastern basin, and technical exchanges with MGI – the developers of these sessions are expected to expand partnership options for Guyana’s growing maritime, logistics, and agri-processing sectors.
Among the participating group are representatives from the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc. (VEHSI), Crane Guyana Inc., Guyana Port Inc., Western Logistics Guyana, Banks DIH Ltd., Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), UMAMI Inc., and other private-sector stakeholders.