Guyanese businesses seeking partnerships with international investors must focus on credibility, compliance and structure, according to Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), President Kathy Smith.
Smith said foreign investors are not necessarily looking for local companies with decades of experience. Instead, they want businesses that are properly organised and can be trusted as partners.
Smith said many micro, small and medium-sized enterprises wrongly believe they are too small or too inexperienced to work with international companies. She pushed back against that view, noting that Guyana’s oil and gas industry is still young and many companies supporting the sector are themselves less than 10 years old.
“What these international investors are looking for, they’re looking for credible businesses,” Smith said.
She said international investors understand that local companies may not have all the technical capacity, financing or manpower they need. In many cases, she said, foreign partners can bring those resources. What they want to see first is that the local company is properly managed.
Smith said businesses should have clear systems, relevant certifications, registered employees, NIS and GRA compliance, proper payroll arrangements, tax returns, business bank accounts and health and safety standards where required.
She said investors want to know that a company “looks like what it is projecting,” meaning that its internal structure should match the level of business it is seeking to attract.
For companies with the resources, Smith also encouraged having office space, since investors often want to know where a business is located and how it operates.
The GCCI President said structure is the key requirement. Once that is in place, she said, international investors may be able to bring human resources, technical skills and financing to help local businesses grow.
Smith’s comments come as Guyana continues to attract major foreign investment. She said Guyana recorded around US$10 billion in foreign investment in 2024, with that figure increasing by 35 per cent in 2025, showing that investors are comfortable with the country’s business environment.
She said local businesses have been partnering with international investors in several sectors, including oil and gas support services, logistics, recruitment, janitorial services, catering, vessel operations, welding and fabrication.
