SelectUSA Summit: Finance Minister holds high-level investment talks as Guyana pushes deeper US economic ties

…Guyanese firms demonstrate ambition to compete in int’l markets – US Embassy

On the margins of the SelectUSA Investment Summit, Finance Minister Ashni Singh has engaged in high-level discussions with American officials focused on advancing shared economic priorities, strengthening private sector partnerships, and expanding access to expertise and financing to support Guyana’s continued growth.
Among the key engagements was a bilateral meeting with Thomas R Hardy, Acting Director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
In a social media post, Dr Singh said the conversation focused on the rapid economic transformation taking place in Guyana and the strategic role that the USTDA expertise and financing can play in building a foundation for sustainable prosperity.
The USTDA is an independent agency of the US Government that supports economic development and advances US commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.
On the side-lines of the SelectUSA Investment Summit, Dr Singh met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Western Hemisphere in the United States Department of Commerce, Isabella Cascarano. Discussion centred on ways in which the two countries can advance shared economic interests, with particular emphasis on fostering private sector partnerships and identifying new investment and commercial opportunities. The Finance Minister said both parties reaffirmed their commitment to creating a more resilient and diversified economic partnership between the two nations.
Dr Singh also met with the Chief Policy Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation, Caroline Vik, and her team, where discussions focused on the potential role of the organisation in supporting Guyana’s development agenda, which is expected to unlock significant investment, including in infrastructure and energy infrastructure.
Dr Singh said he used the opportunity of the engagement to detail the Guyanese Government’s priority projects, focusing on transforming the country into a regional logistics and industrial hub. This includes the development of the deep-water port at the Berbice River, the road link from northern Brazil to Guyana’s Atlantic coast, and a major industrial complex powered by the Gas-to-Energy project.
The Finance Minister further met with the Vice President for the Americas Program at the United States Chamber of Commerce, Anne McKinney, and several members of the Chamber.
The meeting was held in partnership with AmCham Guyana, a member of the US Chamber of Commerce.
During discussions, they outlined Guyana’s unprecedented economic trajectory and the vast opportunities for American businesses to participate in the nation’s non-oil diversification, noting that Guyana is open for business and welcomes partners in infrastructure, health, and technology amongst the many other sectors ripe with opportunities.
The Chamber expressed its commitment to providing support and technical insights to help attract and facilitate continued strong levels of Private Sector investment by US companies in the Guyanese economy.
In another social media post on Thursday, Dr Singh said he also met with the Under-Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, William Kimmitt, on the margins of the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland.
According to Dr Singh, the meeting highlighted the growing economic partnership between Guyana and the United States, rooted in a shared commitment to expanding trade and investment.
He said he also used the opportunity to underscore the Government’s desire to see more Guyanese companies entering the US market and US firms establishing a greater presence in Guyana.
Also attending the meeting were Executive Director for the Caribbean at the IDB, Navita Ramroop; Advisor to the Embassy of Guyana in Washington DC, Wazim Mowla; and Senior Director Of Investment at GoInvest, John Edghill.

Global Markets
The SelectUSA Investment Summit is hosted by the US Department of Commerce. It serves as a platform that connects investors, companies, economic development organisations, and industry experts to facilitate business investment in the US.
Guyana’s delegation included Senior Director of Investment at the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), John Edghill; Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce Guyana, Richard Leo; and Private Sector representatives from Beharry Holdings Inc, Banks DIH Holdings Inc, Citizens Bank Guyana Inc, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), DCSN Manufacturing Inc., Complete Medical Examinations Prep, and Harris Paints (Guyana) Ltd.
In a statement via social media on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Georgetown lauded Guyana’s participation in the event.
It said, “By joining over 4500 business investors from over 80 countries, their participation demonstrates that Guyanese companies are increasingly ready to go global with trade and investment on the world stage.”
In fact, the US Embassy said the delegation reflects the growing ambition of established Guyanese companies to compete in international markets, pursue strategic investment opportunities, and establish a meaningful presence in the United States.
“Members of the Guyana delegation are participating in a wide range of engagements, including meetings with senior US federal, state, and city officials; expert panel discussions; and networking forums where they are learning best practices for successful market entry and business expansion. These engagements will help them establish partnerships, identify investment opportunities, and create the practical pathways to successfully expand and compete in the US market,” the embassy explained.
It added that the Guyana delegation reflects a “decisive and forward-leaning outlook” and recognises the United States as a “premier destination for strategic expansion and as a gateway to global markets”.