The United States is seeking to deepen its economic partnership with Guyana by supporting infrastructure development and helping the country turn its growing energy wealth into broader economic gains, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Tuesday.
Speaking in Georgetown after meeting with Guyana President Irfaan Ali, Landau said the United States wants to be part of Guyana’s long-term development as the country’s offshore oil industry fuels rapid economic growth.
“The United States is here to say we want to be part of the story of Guyana’s future development and prosperity,” Landau said.
He said Guyana has reached a stage where major investments in infrastructure will be necessary to sustain its economic expansion.
“Guyana is at a stage in development where it needs infrastructure as a foundation for further economic growth,” Landau said.
Guyana’s economy has expanded dramatically since the discovery and development of major offshore oil reserves, generating increased government revenues and driving significant public and private investment.
Landau said the United States sees opportunities to support infrastructure that could strengthen Guyana’s domestic economy while expanding its ability to participate in regional trade.
“We want to see ports that allow goods to come in, roads that allow those goods to be transported throughout the country and the region,” he said.
He also pointed to housing and other public amenities as areas where development could improve living standards.
“We’d like to see more stores and stadiums and all the things that the people of Guyana want, including housing,” Landau said.
During his discussions with Ali, Landau said they discussed development opportunities across several parts of the country, including Berbice, Lethem and the Demerara region.
“We’re very aligned on a vision for prosperity that brings benefits to the people of both our countries and its prosperity across the whole nation of Guyana,” he said.
“We talked about Berbice, we talked about Lethem, we talked about Demerara region — all the regions of Guyana.”
Landau was accompanied on his visit by representatives of U.S. businesses as Washington seeks to strengthen commercial ties with Guyana, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
The deputy secretary said the United States wants to work with Guyana as it uses its natural and human resources to support development beyond the energy sector.
Landau described Guyana’s economy as booming and said he believed the country was the fastest-growing in the world. He stressed that the potential partnership extends beyond oil and gas and could help translate economic growth into better living standards for Guyanese.
“There’s just so many things we can work on together that allow Guyana to have a better quality of life for its people,” Landau said.
“And I think together we can build a stronger, safer and more prosperous country.”