Guyana joins IDB initiative to improve connectivity, integration in South America

…as Finance Minister talks up road to Brazil, Corentyne bridge projects

Guyana has signed on to a new Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) programme to foster integration within South America, as part of efforts to build a more connected and prosperous continent.
The signing was done during the IDB and IDB Invest Annual Meetings held at the Mapocho Station Cultural Centre in Santiago, Chile from March 26 to 30. Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, attended the meeting.
On Friday, Dr Singh, along with other high-ranking representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay, joined IDB President, Ilan Goldfajn, to ink a declaration of support for the “South Connection” programme, in which they recognised the cross-border nature of shared challenges and requested the IDB’s support to address them jointly through a pragmatic, regional approach.

The IDB said “South Connection” is a new regional programme co-created by South American countries for developing strategic corridors to improve connectivity, strengthen value chains, and modernise institutional frameworks. By connecting currently fragmented markets, the initiative seeks to increase scale, reduce costs, and attract investment.
During brief remarks, Minister Singh welcomed the initiative and acknowledged the long-standing recognition of the need for greater integration within South America.
According to a post on his Facebook page, the Finance Minister said he also discussed the untapped potential of increased connectivity within South America, particularly for countries in the northeastern region like Guyana, which have been hindered by small domestic markets and poor connectivity with neighbouring countries.
In this regard, Dr Singh took the opportunity to highlight that Guyana has already commenced work on the road link with Brazil. This massive transformational project includes the paving of the road from Linden to Lethem, which upon completion, will serve as a conduit for travel between the two South American nations. This road is intended to improve access to more rural parts of Guyana, facilitate trade, and potentially link with Brazil’s road network.
He also highlighted ongoing collaboration with Suriname on the bridging of the Corentyne River, which will also have transformative impact on connectivity and trade with Guyana’s neighbour to the east.

“South Connection” is based on three pillars: Connectivity, improving roads, ports, waterways, electrical and digital networks; Regional and global value chains, facilitating trade, developing local production, and improving market integration; and Regulatory and institutional strengthening, supporting trade agreements, regulatory frameworks, and institutions at all levels.
“South Connection responds to the mandate of our governors and the shared commitment to build a larger, more integrated regional market that is attractive for investment. Through better connectivity, stronger value chains, and modernised institutional frameworks, the programme will help South American countries overcome historical barriers and generate new opportunities,” said President Goldfajn, according to a statement from the IDB on Sunday.
The new IDB programme will expand the Integration Routes alliance, born under the Brasilia Agreement that was signed by countries in May 2023 and supported by the IDB, FONPLATA, Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The 2025 Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the IDB and IDB-Invest includes discussions by economic and financial leaders from the Bank’s 48 member countries and the private sector, about key development challenges and opportunities in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Dr Singh met with the IDB President.

During those discussions, the Finance Minister acknowledged that the IDB Group has been and continues to be an invaluable and reliable development partner for Guyana, and the Caribbean Region more broadly, through both good and challenging times. He also noted that Guyana considers the IDB an important development partner well into the future.
Minister Singh also took the opportunity on behalf of Guyana and the Caribbean, to acknowledge the work of the Board and management, on the implementation of the new Institutional Strategy approved at the last annual meetings.
Joining the Guyanese official at the meeting were the Executive Director in the Caribbean Office of the IDB, Navita Ramroop, and Senior Economic and Financial Analyst at the Ministry of Finance, Ronette Hetsberger.
President Goldfajn was joined by the Bank’s Vice President for Countries and Regional Integration, Anabel González; Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge, Ana María Ibáñez Londoño; General Manager for the Caribbean Country Department, Anton Edmunds; and Advisor to the President, Amanda Glassman.
Meanwhile, during the five-day IDB annual meeting, Minister Singh participated in a high-level roundtable discussion on ‘Amazonia Forever’ – an umbrella programme to boost coordination for the Amazon Region.
He underscored that the Amazonia Forever initiative aligns with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), offering a platform for sharing experiences and preparing for COP27.
Further, Dr Singh emphasised Guyana’s strong commitment to preserving its Amazonian rainforest, which covers 85 per cent of its land, making it one of the most heavily forested countries with the lowest deforestation rate in the world.
The Finance Minister also highlighted that Guyana views its forest as both a natural treasure and an economic asset, providing global climate services and housing significant biodiversity, noting that Guyana is participating in playing a leading role in the launching of a global biodiversity alliance.
On behalf of Guyana, and the region more broadly, Dr Singh lauded IDB for launching and continuing this initiative, and reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to Amazonia Forever.