Partnerships, technology key for sustainable development – PM Phillips tells global summit

– discusses renewable energy collab with Indian Minister

Citing Guyana’s commitment to climate leadership, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips has underscored the importance of partnerships and technology innovations in the path towards sustainable development.
He was at the time delivering the keynote address at the 24th edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025, hosted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi, India.
The three-day summit is being held under the theme: “Advancing Global Partnerships for a Resilient and Sustainable Future”, and would last from March 5 to 7.

According to the Guyanese Prime Minister, this theme fittingly urges the prioritization of collective partnership in accelerating sustainable development and climate solutions globally.
Similarly, he highlighted the critical role that technology plays in sustainable development.
“Sustainability requires collective commitment from all stakeholders to drive meaningful and transformative action…I urge the continued commitment to bold action and tangible results…We must seek ways of leveraging technology to bridge gaps in climate adaptation, resilience and economic opportunities. We must also prioritise equity so that no one is left behind in this global transition.
“…We cannot achieve this reality without unity, leadership and innovation… Guyana stands ready to play its part, working alongside partners like India and the global community to drive climate solutions that benefit the planet,” PM Phillips stated.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the developing world, which contributes least to climate change but bears its heaviest burdens, must have access to resources, technologies and investments required for a just and sustainable transition.
He noted that Guyana has demonstrated how such support can position developing countries to advancing sustainable development and climate solutions.
“Guyana stands as a testament to what is possible when leadership, partnerships and innovation converge in the pursuit of sustainability. As a Small Developing State, we have embraced bold initiatives in digital transformation, clean energy and climate resilience, ensuring that our development trajectory aligns with global sustainability goals. Guyana remains a leader in climate action with its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 – a comprehensive roadmap for decarbonization,” he added.
One example of such a collective partnership that the Prime Minister highlighted is between the Guyana and Indian Governments, which have signed several agreements on renewable energy cooperation.
Additionally, TERI has played a crucial role over the years in supporting Guyana’s ambitious sustainable energy transition, especially as it relates to solar power.
“TERI’s solar home energy system has electrified 269 remote communities, benefitting over 135,000 people while reducing by 45,000 tonnes carbon emissions. Covering 245 hinterland and 24 riverine communities, this off-grid solution ensures clean energy access, monitored through an online portal for real-time performance tracking,” PM Phillips stated.
Moreover, he recalled that TERI has long championed low carbon initiatives in Guyana, supporting the country’s first gasifier project in Essequibo back in 2014 as well as main-streaming low emission technologies project here such as integrating solar energy into water treatment plants.
Additionally, the Prime Minister noted that TERI’s Industrial Energy Group has been providing technical advice to Guyana’s agriculture and energy sectors, while also driving biomass-based energy solutions with the January 2023 pact inked with two Guyanese companies – Durable Wood Products (DWP) Inc. and EMC Energy Inc. – for the establishment of a 1.5-megawatt (MW) wood waste-based power generation system using gasification technology.
Meanwhile, as a part of Prime Minister Phillips’s four-day official visit to India, he held a series of engagements on Tuesday, including with India’s Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, during which they discussed continued collaboration in renewable energy, specifically in the areas of wind, solar, and hydro power.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Phillips and Minister Joshi discussed India’s commitment to supporting renewable energy initiatives in the Caribbean. One of these initiatives includes providing solar power to a government building in Guyana, with plans to replicate the project across multiple Caribbean nations.
Both parties also expressed interest in renewing the expired Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on New and Renewable Energy, previously signed with Guyana’s Ministry of Public Works.
Prime Minister Phillips emphasised that Guyana values India as a key development partner across all sectors.
Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Dharamkumar Seeraj, and Deputy High Commissioner Ronalda Edwards-Horatio were also present at the meeting.
Also on Tuesday, the Guyanese Prime Minister visited the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, where he engaged with the hospitals’ team of experts to discuss advances in healthcare.
Healthcare remains a key area of cooperation between India and Guyana, and the Prime Minister’s visit is expected to further strengthen collaboration in this sector, with a particular focus on advancing healthcare development in Guyana.
The Apollo Hospitals, established in 1995, are part of the Apollo Hospitals Group, India’s largest healthcare chain.