“We have an open-door policy to international cooperation” – Bharrat

…says Guyana embraces Chinese investment

The Guyana government has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering international investment with an open-door policy, specifically with its trade counterparts in China.

With bilateral trade between Guyana and China increasing by US$1.4 billion in 2024, Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat said the Guyana Government is keen on promoting free trade, minimal restrictions on imports and exports, and equal access to markets for all trading partners, especially China.
The minster made the comment during the Spring Festival celebration held at Berbice High School on Saturday last, explained that this policy aims to encourage economic growth, competition, and international cooperation.
On this point, he highlighted contributions of Chinese companies in major sectors, including gold mining, quarrying, bauxite, and manganese, with Zijin Gold Company operating Guyana’s first underground gold mine.
“Guyana as a country and with our government, we have an open-door policy to international cooperation among all countries. But what we want out of a partnership is to ensure that that partnership is a win-win partnership and that is what is being demonstrated by investors in Guyana today”.
“We have major Chinese companies operating in the bauxite and manganese sectors as well. So, this just shows the kind of investments that are being made by Chinese companies in Guyana and it’s something that we welcome, something that we are happy about, and something that we will continue to collaborate and cooperate to ensure that we have more and more investment flowing into Guyana across different sectors,” Bharrat said.
The Natural Resource Minister lauded the long-standing partnership between Guyana and China, noting President Dr Irfaan Ali’s visit to China and his discussions with President Xi Jinping as a step toward further strengthening bilateral relations.
With in this in mind, Bharrat expressed gratitude for Chinese investments in Guyana’s infrastructure, from roads to airports and commercial businesses such as supermarkets and restaurants.
He noted that with major projects underway and a commitment to making investment seamless, Guyana is poised for a new era of modernisation and economic expansion.
“They are many other things that we can celebrate about the your (China’s) presence here in our country. We spoke about your economic stewardship, the economic development that’s taking place in China, it is almost second to none”.
“Not only are we’re one of the fastest growing economies in the world but we have the front seat to see Guyana unfold, to see the new Guyana that we all long for, to see the new Guyana that our ancestors sweat and work to achieve,” he added.