Promising opportunities in Guyana’s agriculture, food processing sectors – Indian diplomat

…as India soon to field trade delegation to explore investment opportunities at upcoming GuyExpo

As Guyana continues to diversify its economy, there are lots of opportunities for potential investments in the agriculture and food-processing sectors that are being eyed by companies from India. This is according to the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, during a recent interview with Guyana Times. Cognisant of Guyana’s continued exponential growth, the Indian diplomat highlighted his country’s desire to play a significant role in this unprecedented economic transformation.

In fact, he recognised that opportunities for foreign investments here are expanding, and India is looking to capitalise on these with special interest in the budding agriculture and food processing sectors in Guyana.
“We are also looking at, in terms of participation of Indian companies in different projects related to agriculture and food processing… and there’s a lot of promise, I would say, in the agriculture and food processing sector. We know that Guyana has a lot of potential in terms of agriculture and the food processing industry.  So, we would be very much looking forward to that area of cooperation as well,” the Indian diplomat stated. The Guyana Government has been pursuing an aggressive agriculture agenda, with heightened investments in agro-processing and other related sectors.

According to High Commissioner Telang, India will be fielding a trade delegation next to explore opportunities in these and other areas for possible investments.
That visit will coincide with the hosting of GuyExpo 2025. Set for November 13 to 16, GuyExpo is Guyana’s premier trade and investment showcase that highlights local and regional products, bringing together innovations, entrepreneurship and culture.
“We are in touch right now with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce [in Georgetown], and in fact, they would be inviting one of our prominent chambers of commerce, which can be a partner, to mount a business delegation from India. And definitely, we will look at all possible options.  It will not be only agriculture and food processing; it will include companies from other sectors as well.” “Based on what we are looking at in terms of what GuyExpo has to offer, which are the different areas that are part of GuyExpo, different sectors, and wherever we find that there is complementarity existing, we’ll certainly include those companies from India to be a part of the visiting delegation,” Dr Telang revealed.

Over the years, Guyana and India have established strong cooperation in the agriculture sector, with the Asian country lending its expertise and innovations in various fields, including rice, sugar, corn and wheat, to help bolster local production. Just last year, during the historic visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Guyana, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were inked between the two countries to strengthen cooperation, specifically, the exchanging of information technology and expertise to enhance the efficiency of the agriculture and allied sectors. This collaboration aims to promote climate-resilient and precision agriculture, foster digital public infrastructure and create a supportive ecosystem for farmers, particularly smallholders. In a joint statement, it was noted that both President Dr Irfaan Ali and PM Modi acknowledged the crucial role of the agricultural sector in advancing food security and nutrition and expressed a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration.
As a matter of fact, in June last year, a delegation of technical experts from India was in Guyana on a familiarisation visit, inspecting the local tissue culture lab, the hydroponic farm, and the Mangrove Information and Preservation Centre at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Moreover, at least seven Indian technical experts were previously working with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to support its revitalisation efforts, focusing on areas such as field management, agro-management and crop management.
But according to the Indian High Commissioner, these collaborations are not just at the Government-to-Government level but also Government-to-Private Sector. In fact, the Guyana Government already has several cooperation initiatives with Indian companies on agricultural projects, including hydroponics and nano fertilisers. Only on Wednesday, the Ministry of Agriculture launched Guyana’s first-ever nanotechnology fertiliser – a collaboration between the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and India’s The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
According to the Ministry, the introduction of nano fertilisers marks a new era in Guyana’s rice cultivation and agricultural innovation by enhancing productivity, reducing input costs, and promoting sustainable farming practices across the country. The introduction of nano fertilisers in Guyana began in mid-2022, following a collaboration between the GRDB and TERI.
Early trials included various nanotechnology-based formulations, such as boron nanoparticles, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertiliser, and a growth-promoting blend of NPK nutrients. This partnership deepened following Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s visit to India in early 2023, during which an MoU was signed between the Government of Guyana and TERI to advance sustainable agricultural practices in Guyana.
Acting on the VP’s directive, the testing of Nano Urea was prioritised and initiated at the Burma Rice Research Station, Mahaicony, where demonstration trials have been successfully conducted over four crop seasons since April 2023.