Latest update November 1st, 2026 10:45 AM
UK-Guyana trade hits £2.2B
(Kaieteur News) – Guyana’s bilateral trade with the United Kingdom has climbed to approximately £2.2 billion, reinforcing the country’s position as Britain’s largest trading partner in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
The figures were highlighted on Thursday during a business reception hosted by the British High Commission in Georgetown in honour of His Majesty King Charles III, who was on a two-day State Visit to Guyana.
The reception brought together representatives of leading British and Guyanese businesses, private sector organisations and Government officials to celebrate the growing commercial relationship between the two countries and explore opportunities for further investment and trade.
During the engagement, His Majesty was briefed on the development of a new 150,000-square-foot arrivals terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), representing an investment of approximately US$65.5 million.
The project is being undertaken by British company Mowlem, with support from UK Export Finance (UKEF).
The new terminal is designed to process 1,000 passengers per hour, with the capacity to expand to 1,500, while increasing the airport’s annual passenger capacity to as much as 2.5 million.
The wider redevelopment will also separate arrivals and departures and introduce improved passenger-processing and baggage-handling systems, alongside additional retail and lounge facilities.
At the reception, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, highlighted two significant developments expected to strengthen Guyana’s access to international financing.
These include an increase in UKEF’s country risk appetite for Guyana from £3 billion to £3.5 billion, as well as the recent reclassification of Guyana by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from Category 5 to Category 4.
The United Kingdom supported the reclassification, which is expected to improve Guyana’s access to international financing and enhance its attractiveness as an investment destination.
The developments underscore the growing economic partnership between the two countries, with British expertise, financing and commercial capabilities being brought to bear on Guyana’s infrastructure and development priorities while creating opportunities for businesses in both countries.
His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, Amy Barklam, said the relationship was increasingly being defined by the delivery of projects and shared ambitions.
“The UK-Guyana partnership is increasingly defined by delivery and shared ambition. British expertise and innovation are supporting Guyana’s priorities, while Guyana’s remarkable growth is creating new opportunities for UK businesses,” she said.
Barklam added that the partnerships were helping to build shared prosperity while creating a platform for greater economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of UK Export Finance, Tim Reid, said the agency was proud to be deepening its relationship with Guyana.
He explained that the increase in its country risk appetite to £3.5 billion reflected Britain’s commitment to supporting ambitious infrastructure projects, including the new CJIA terminal, while also generating growth and employment opportunities in the United Kingdom.
Director of Mowlem, Phil Atkinson, disclosed that the major construction phase of the Terminal 2 project at CJIA is expected to commence imminently.
He described the project as a potential catalyst for the development of Guyana’s aviation sector and long-term economic growth.
“We are fully committed to delivering this world-class infrastructure safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards,” Atkinson said, while expressing gratitude to the Governments of Guyana and the United Kingdom for their support and partnership.
He added that the company looked forward to executing what he described as a landmark project.
Guyana remains the United Kingdom’s largest trading partner in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with bilateral trade reaching approximately £2.2 billion in the four quarters ending March 2026.
The strengthening commercial relationship has been accompanied by closer people-to-people and business connections.
In November 2022, Guyanese nationals were granted visa-free visitor travel to the United Kingdom, followed by the launch of British Airways services between London and Georgetown in March 2023.
The British Chamber of Commerce Guyana (BritCham Guyana) was also established in 2023 to provide a dedicated platform for strengthening trade, investment and commercial links between the two countries.
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding trade, investment and partnerships with Guyana, as both countries seek to capitalise on growing economic opportunities.
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