One of the more recent indicators of external perceptions of the state of health of the Guyana economy was reflected in the pronouncement by British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, on Thursday July 2 that Guyana has now positioned itself as Britain’s top trade partner in the Caribbean. Additionally, pointing to the likelihood that the partnership could be further consolidated, going forward, the UK envoy alluded to the likelihood of a British Chamber of Commerce being launched here soon.
The disclosures by the UK diplomat come on the heels of two high-profile visits here by British functionaries, the first, back in November last year by Britain’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Spencer Mahoney, and the second in February this year by a group UK business officials exploring investment opportunities in a wide range of sectors.
During his November 2021 visit here, Mahoney had dropped a broad hint in an interview with the Stabroek Business that Guyana could expect a number of fact finding visits from representatives of the British business community, going forward.
“It feels that your government recognises that business brings unique skills, expertise, and value that a country like Guyana needs to harness for its benefit. Guyana is open to this and I think that is really good,” Mahoney had told the Stabroek Business back in November last year.
Official reports on the more recent four-day “Business Mission” indicated that the visit allowed for networking initiatives with public and private sector officials in their search for potential investments opportunities in Guyana.
In April this year, President Irfaan Ali met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the United Kingdom where the two held discussions on a range of possible investment-related issues including agriculture and energy. The representatives of the British companies who visited Guyana recently reportedly included a business delegation that visited Guyana recently to observe some areas of the construction sector.
