No investment, no access to Guyana’s market - Pres. Ali tells foreign investors

No investment, no access to Guyana’s market – Pres. Ali tells foreign investors

Jun 22, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali has issued a stern ultimatum to regional manufacturers, warning that international brands looking to expand in the local market must invest in onshore production or risk losing access to Guyanese consumers.

Speaking on Saturday at the commissioning of BK Air/Jags Aviation’s HAL Dornier 228 aircraft on Saturday, President Ali expressed impatience with foreign partners who view Guyana strictly as a consumption market rather than a hub for manufacturing and value creation.

No investment, no access to Guyana’s market - Pres. Ali tells foreign investors

President Ali addressing the audience.

“We don’t want to be a market that is only consuming and buying,” President Ali said. “We are a market positioning ourselves to be the best that we can be. And if we are going to take you on as a partner, you have a relationship and a responsibility to invest in this partnership.”

“If we are not good enough for you to manufacture and produce your goods by investing in our economy, then we are not good enough to consume your goods too,” the head of state warned.

Ali emphasised that Guyana currently offers the most aggressive, policy-based fiscal incentives for manufacturing and agro-processing within the Caribbean region. He argued there is no longer any structural justification for companies to export finished goods to Guyana rather than building local factories. To demonstrate the viability of this model, the president highlighted a new partnership with local conglomerate Banks DIH and the Dominican Republic (DR). Following a direct challenge issued to leadership, Banks DIH is partnering with DR firms to establish an agro-processing and manufacturing hub for food and snacks inside Guyana.

President Ali noted that Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader aligns with this vision of regional integration. Referring to a prominent import sector, Ali noted that while Guyana welcomes high-quality, well-priced products, the ultimate goal is domestic manufacturing.

“We cannot go forward without value creation and manufacturing in this country,” Ali said. “And that is where our energy must be and that is why this investment is critical.”

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consumption market, foreign investors, Guyana’s market, investment, President Ali

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