President Dr. Irfaan Ali emphasised the tremendous potential for Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil to transform into a powerful energy, transport, and logistics hub through strategic policies and strengthened bilateral ties. Speaking at the International Business Conference (IBC), President Ali highlighted that these nations, alongside French Guiana and the Caribbean, hold “enormous possibilities” for regional development.
“Based on studies between Suriname, Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana, we have the potential of producing 3000 megawatts of new power interconnected…imagine what that will do for development,” he stated.
Dr. Ali pointed to Guyana’s strategic position as the gateway to South America and the Caribbean, particularly its significance for CARICOM, and expressed optimism about building a transport and logistics ecosystem that could efficiently serve the entire region.
“So, between Guyana and Suriname, if we build this ecosystem, we can create a world-class transport and logistics hub from them servicing the entire region because of accessibility, capability, competitiveness, and cost,” Ali added.
The President underscored the importance of energy infrastructure integration, envisioning a transport and logistics loop that could remove trade barriers and stimulate regional growth.
Suriname’s President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, echoed these sentiments, focusing on the two nations’ shared history and cultural bonds. He stated that their strengthened bilateral relations set the stage for them to become key global players, particularly in oil and gas.
“Together, we have an opportunity to lead on the global stage, particularly in oil and gas exploration, where our combined strength positions us as pivotal players in the energy landscape,” said Santokhi.
With ongoing collaborative efforts, such as a planned bridge across the Corentyne River and joint development in manufacturing sectors, the leaders of both nations are moving towards a future of deeper economic cooperation. Recent discussions on oil and gas further underline the significant opportunities for partnership between Guyana and Suriname.