Guyana, Suriname to boost trade partnership at Int’l Business Conference

The upcoming inaugural International Business Conference (IBC) will serve as a platform towards unlocking new opportunities geared at boosting business to business partnerships between Guyana and Suriname.

This is according to Guyana’s Chief Investment Officer and Agency Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, who on Tuesday unveiled a new app for the IBC conference slated for the Marriott Hotel from October 15 to 17.
During his remarks Dr Ramsaroop explained there will be a major focus on boosting Guyana and Suriname’s manufacturing sectors given their shared commitment to sustainable development.
Further, he hinted that the two nations are working towards food security, specifically reducing the food import bill by 25 percent by 2025.
“I believe that it’s an exciting time for the region and we talked about the 25 by 25 and there is another 75 percent needed to feed the Caribbean and the movement towards more manufacturing and processing this conference will entail may see that other 75 percent come from Guyana and Suriname… In terms of expansion in manufacturing and processing power is going to be important and we are aggressively moving ahead with todays need but also tomorrows need,” Dr Ramsaroop shared.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to Guyana, Liselle Blankendal shared similar sentiments noting that Suriname is will also be hosting its first International Business Conference (IBC) in February 2025.
She noted that Suriname’s conference will build on the foundation laid by Guyana’s event and aims to further bolster investment opportunities for businesses in the hemisphere.
“This pivotal conference is expected to generate new strategic partnerships between local businesses and international investors, attract fresh investment prospects and facilitate business expansion within Guyana, outside Guyana, in Suriname and the wider Caribbean. The IBC 2024 will not only strengthen the economic ties between Caribbean nations but also reinforce the regions role as a hub for international trade and investment, driving sustainable growth for years to come,” the Ambassador shared.
The Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce and other Chambers of Commerce recently inked several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to increase cooperation.
More than 500 delegates and 1oo speakers are expected to attend the International Business Conference.
The IBC, which was organised by the Guyana-Suriname Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA), the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), offers a platform for locals to pool their resources, strengthen collective capabilities, and elevate the Caribbean’s standing in the global market.
With high-level discussions, targeted networking opportunities, and avenues for foreign investment, the IBC is set to play a crucial role in advancing regional development and fostering new business partnerships in real estate, infrastructure, mining, industrial services and tourism.
Ahead of the event, President Dr Irfaan Ali is urging businesses across the Caribbean and the international community to seize the immense opportunities that will be available.
“Many people look at the connectivity of business and the networking and the creation of larger scale companies when they combine their efforts, technology and people capital. But I see something that people sometime don’t look at. If you have more investors from the Caribbean in Guyana or more investors from the Middle East and US then it pushes their economy. And when they are pushed then the bureaucratic delays and the artificial blockade that is there is better served and easier to remove,” Ali said in a previous address.
According to the Head of State, government policies would also be examined during the summit, with the aim of finding solutions to overcome challenges such as trade barriers, which would help to enhance regional and international trade. (G1)