European countries are showing growing interest in Guyana as an alternative source of oil, gas, commodities and trade partnerships, as the South American nation’s economic expansion continues to attract global attention.
Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr. said Europe has taken “a specific interest” in Guyana, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and concerns around global supply security.
Speaking on the Energy Perspectives podcast, Gouveia said several European nations are now looking at Guyana not only as an energy supplier, but also as a wider trade and commodity partner.
“A lot of the European nations have now started to look at Guyana as an alternative supply, not only of oil and gas, but for other commodities as well, and trading partners,” Gouveia said.
He said he was recently invited to France, where he presented Guyana’s investment opportunities to the French Minister of Foreign Trade, top private-sector organisations, government business development agencies and hundreds of leading French companies.
According to Gouveia, the response from Europe, and France in particular, has been strong.
“I can tell you that the interest from Europe and specifically France has been phenomenal,” he said.
The PSC Chairman said Europe’s engagement with Guyana is also expanding beyond boardroom discussions. He noted that Europe has already taken a group of Guyanese across the continent to learn about logistics, while other engagements are being planned around timber, lumber, agriculture and agro-processing.
Gouveia said these initiatives reflect a broader question now being asked by foreign countries and companies: how they can work with Guyana and partner with local businesses.
“What we’re seeing is a lot of interest in how do we as foreign countries work with Guyana and work with local businesses,” he said.
