Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh, has advocated deeper collaboration with the World Bank Group to introduce digital solutions to enhance education systems in Guyana and across the Caribbean.
Speaking at a Caribbean Governors’ Meeting during the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington, D.C., Singh met with the bank’s Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde. He emphasised the need to prioritise human capital development to keep pace with Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy.
Singh highlighted the critical role technology can play in addressing educational disparities, particularly by improving access and raising the quality of learning where it is most needed. He noted that equipping citizens with relevant skills is essential to sustaining growth in an evolving economic landscape.
While recognising the World Bank’s continued support for the Caribbean, Singh highlighted the region’s distinct challenges, including vulnerability to climate change and the structural constraints facing small economies. He argued that long-term investment in infrastructure and strategic policy reforms would be necessary to unlock broader trade and development opportunities.
The minister also urged the World Bank to increase its support for private-sector development, particularly through financial mechanisms that can attract greater investment into Guyana’s economy. He called for faster implementation of initiatives to keep pace with the country’s growth.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Singh signed a World Bank Group Establishment Agreement with the International Finance Corporation, alongside IFC Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Alfonso Garcia Mora. The agreement is expected to expand the institution’s involvement in Guyana’s private sector, thereby supporting more resilient and inclusive economic progress.
In his remarks, Singh welcomed the IFC’s ongoing contributions but emphasised the need for more tangible outcomes as Guyana continues its rapid economic transformation.