President Irfaan Ali met with a team from the Guyana Innovation Group and representatives of Dar consultants yesterday at State House to listen to their presentation on the Innovation Village Masterplan.
According to the Group, the Innovation Village will be an area within Silica City, where digital and innovative leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with startups, business incubators and accelerators. It will be physically compact, transit-accessible, technically-wired and will offer housing, office and retail spaces.
Ali, in his remarks, emphasised on the impact of the “catalytic” investment.
“The aim is to create opportunities for 2030 and beyond.”
The establishment of Silica City was proposed in 2013 by President Ali during his tenure as the Minister of Housing and Water. He recently told Stabroek News that major concessions will be rolled out for persons who decide to set up in Silica City.
The city’s construction is in keeping with Guyana’s international commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the New Urban Agenda and other guidelines.
Present at yesterday’s meeting were several representatives from the Government, including the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Com-merce, Oneidge Walrond; the Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, as well as representatives from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and the Guyana Office for Investment.
