Guyana ideal host country for C’bean Investment Forum 2024 – CEDA Executive Director

Deputy Executive Director (Officer in Charge) at the Caribbean Export Development Agency Leo Naut stated that it was a “no brainer” in selecting Guyana to host this year’s Caribbean Investment Forum billed for July 10 to 12, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
Naut made this comment during a recent televised interview during which he revealed that Guyana’s rapid economic growth and potential in various industries outside of Oil and Gas make it a dynamic and attractive destination in which investors are seeking opportunities.

“Well, Guyana is an exceptional choice for us and definitely, when you look at the economic growth and potential that Guyana is experiencing, primarily driven by the many industries and the rapid rate of economic development… we really think that Guyana is the dynamic and attractive destination that investors are seeking opportunities in particularly and in various sectors beyond oil and gas. These include agriculture, technology, and infrastructure,” he stated.
Naut also underscored that the government has created an environment to foster economic development while adding its efforts to develop policies geared towards economic diversification and infrastructural development among others combined with Guyana’s major strides in sustainable development with initiatives focused on building a green economy has created a very favorable investment climate.
In this regard, Naut highlighted that Guyana was the ideal country to host this year’s Caribbean Investment Forum.
“We also want to highlight the government support and investment climate that Guyana has. The Guyanese government has demonstrated a very strong commitment to creating a very favorable investment climate with policies geared towards economic diversification, infrastructure development, and regulatory improvements. And more importantly, Guyana has been a stalwart of sustainability and green economy initiatives. You’ve made major strides in sustainable development with initiatives focused on building a green economy and that really plays into the mandate that Caribbean export is looking to highlight at the Caribbean Investment Forum. So this was a no-brainer for us, to say the least.”
Guyana will position itself as a hub for business collaboration and sustainable development initiatives at the event. It is the third time the forum will be held in the Caribbean, and this year’s host country, plans to focus discussions on crucial topics such as sustainable agriculture, transitioning to a green economy, and the digitalisation of business operations.
Agriculture and food security are high on the agenda along with the need for cheaper energy by 2025 to facilitate large-scale agro-processing and sustainable farming.
Over 400 bankable investors from the region will be attending the event, which includes an exposition for local private companies.
The conference will also provide a platform for businesses to showcase their development plans and projects to potential investors, given that another key objective of the forum is to foster joint ventures and partnerships, particularly in sectors like tourism, to enhance collaboration and product offerings.
As a result, the government is planning to partner with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to guide the local private sector and prepare them for the conference requirements. President Dr Irfaan Ali is slated to deliver the keynote speech on Day one of the event while panel discussions will be held for the remainder. Moreover, the investors will tour landmark and tourist sites in Guyana such as the Kaieteur Falls, Bimichi Eco Lodge, and the Essequibo River, as part of their package for attending the forum.