“We are sitting on a gold mine” – Go-Invest Head rallies Guyana, Suriname to seize $10B trade opportunity

…calls for unified cross-border strategy to dominate Caribbean food and logistics markets

In a fiery and impassioned address at the launch of the 2025 International Business Conference (IBC) hosted by the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Go-Invest Dr Peter Ramsaroop issued a clarion call for Guyana and Suriname to join forces and unlock the region’s untapped economic power.
Standing before an audience of regional investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, Dr Ramsaroop pointed to staggering import figures, which see Jamaica and Trinidad each importing over US$1.2 billion in food annually, while Barbados spends US$400 million.
He explained that most of that produce comes from outside the region, not from Guyana, Suriname, or northern Brazil, despite their fertile lands and growing capacity – something Ramsaroop believes must be addressed.
“We are sitting on a gold mine between these two nations. And we’ve got to look at it. Jamaica came into Guyana a couple of weeks ago. Grace Kennedy, as a large food processing company, wants to set up operations in Guyana. But we are sitting on it. Why not us? Why don’t we do it? Why don’t we figure out where the two or three companies in Guyana and Suriname, and maybe include northern Brazil, and include other parts of the Caribbean? And we own this $6 to $10 billion agriculture market,” Dr Ramsaroop said.
Labelling the IBC not just a “conference” but a business engagement with outcomes, Ramsaroop emphasised the urgency of real, collaborative action. He lauded the growing alignment between Suriname and Guyana, from infrastructure to policy, and stressed the importance of turning that momentum into tangible cross-border projects.
“That will be the initiative of what I hope comes out of this business engagement. So, look across from just the speakers and look at where we can join forces. How could we twin these products, right? The Dutch store is brilliant. The rum initiative, brilliant. And if we join the two logistics sectors, we join the shipping sector; we are going to be known for more than oil,” he posited.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to Guyana, Liselle Blankendal, shared similar sentiments, noting that Guyana and Suriname are undergoing major economic transformations, driven by investment in sectors ranging from oil and gas to agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, and innovation.
Thus, the timing of this year’s conference is crucial — and the world is paying attention.
“We help bring people together, support trade, and encourage investment. So, hosting this launch shows our shared goal to strengthen cooperation and build economic partnerships between Suriname, Guyana, and beyond. Guyana is going through big changes, and Suriname is also moving towards economic transformation. That is why this conference is so timely. It will bring together business leaders, investors, and policy makers not just from our two countries but from across the region and the world,” Ambassador Blankendal said.
Back in 2024, the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce and other Chambers of Commerce recently inked several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to increase cooperation, the most important being the commemoration of the 2025 International Business Conference (IBC).
This year, on October 14-16, more than 500 delegates and 100 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.