Pres Ali talks expanding trade, investments between Guyana & US

…meets Congressman Jason Smith

With the aim of deepening the bilateral commercial relationship between Guyana and the United States, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday held discussions with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
The meeting was held at the Department of Commerce at the Herbert Hoover Building in Washington, DC.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the expansion of trade and investment between Guyana and the US.
A statement from the US Secretary of Commerce’s office revealed that during the high-level engagement, Secretary Raimondo formally announced that the Department of Commerce opened a US Commercial Service office within the US Embassy in Georgetown.

“This new office will provide on-the-ground support that can help promote inclusive economic growth. The two also discussed Commerce Department programming and technical support, such as the Commercial Law Development Programme, that can support the development of Guyana’s business climate and help create a favourable environment for increased trade and investment between our nations,” the missive detailed.
Secretary Raimondo was accompanied by the Executive Director for Western Hemisphere, Diane Jones; the Office Director of Latin America and the Caribbean, Alexander Preacher; the Deputy Director of Caribbean Affairs, Department of State, Michael Taylor; and other members from her team.
President Ali’s delegation included Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud.
Meanwhile, also on Wednesday afternoon, President Ali met with the Chairman of the United States of America House Committee on Ways and Means, Congressman Jason Smith, at Capitol Hill, Washington.

The Head of State was joined by Ministers Todd and Walrond along with Foreign Secretary Persaud, Captain Gouveia and Brigadier Khan.
Back in March this year, Congressman Smith and members of a bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) visited Georgetown to meet with Government and Opposition officials during which discussions were held on issues related to governance, economic matters, and the importance of bipartisan cooperation.
The CODEL visit sought to further examine bilateral and economic cooperation between the United States and Guyana.
At a reception hosted by the US Embassy in Georgetown, President Ali had called the USA a “trusted partner.” He had noted that the meeting between the Government of Guyana and the US Congressional House Committee on Ways and Means reinforced the values of the two nations.
According to the Guyanese Leader, these values are geared towards producing the best for the people of both countries, in terms of democracy and regional and global leadership. He had said that Guyana’s relationship with the US was based on principles and on respect and that “Guyana is and will continue to be an important strategic partner of the United States”.
“You are a trusted partner…we are proud of our partnership and we are going to work together to make Guyana and the US stronger together,” President Ali said.
The President had noted too that the focus was to advance the strategic partnership on energy, climate, and food security.
Discussions during the meeting with the committee had also focused on housing, advancing human resource transformation, infrastructural development, healthcare and education. The President had also stated that the opportunities available in Guyana were open to the US Private Sector and that the Government of Guyana wanted to see more participation and collaboration.
He reiterated that the Government’s mission was to catalyse the revenues from oil and gas to position Guyana to function in the world 2030 and beyond to ensure that the country was sustainable, resilient and competitive.
“For us to be a viable State, we must be able to be competitive; and that is what we are investing in, applying the technology that is applicable for a world in the future today,” he noted.
Also on Wednesday, President Ali – the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in Guyana – said that the new world could not develop defence strategies without factoring in the effects of climate change, especially in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
The Guyanese Head of State made this statement while delivering a presentation at the National Defence University in Washington, DC.
President Ali explained that in addition to climate security, food and energy security must also be prioritised when developing defence strategies. He also said that among the most important aspects of future defence and strategy are research, development and innovation.
The House Committee on Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the United States Congress and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. Since 1795, the Committee has exercised jurisdiction over revenue and related issues such as tariffs, international trade policy, and the bonded debt of the United States.
President Ali is currently on a three-day visit to Washington, DC, where he is expected to meet with a number of stakeholders from the US Congress and the State Department.
The Guyanese Head of State is also scheduled to participate in a number of Private Sector meetings and visit several universities. He will also be making a presentation at the Organisation of American States (OAS). (G8)