Overview of Opportunities

 

	Box 2.1: GO-Invest – Providing Export and Investment Support to Foreign and Domestic Investors
	GO-Invest is Guyana’s primary investment and export promotion agency. GO-Invest is divided into two divisions, one responsible for Investment Facilitation and the other for Export Promotion.
	Investment Promotion Activities • Act as primary vehicle for investors to liaise with government agencies during investment process • Assist investors with steps necessary to commence business operations • Provide information on investment incentives and regulations relevant to the sectors of interest • Develop profiles on investment opportunities in Guyana • Assist investors in obtaining factory space or land • Assist with coordination of joint venture efforts • Advise Government on the formulation and implementation of national investment policies
	Export Promotion Activities • Provide exporters with information on trade opportunities in overseas markets • Help exporters promote their products in national and international exhibitions/trade missions • Collaborate with exporting organizations to help address export problems • Recommend measures to the Government to stimulate export trade • Advise Government on the formulation and implementation of national export policies • Collaborate with donors to identify and address needs of private sector firms in priority sectors
	For more information see: www.goinvest.gov.gy
	Box 2.2: Success Factors for Investment and Growth
	Natural Resources – Rich mineral deposits, productive land, forests, sea and rivers, pristine and beautiful environment. Location – Gateway to South America and the Caribbean. Duty Free Market Access – Over 75 percent of Guyana’s exports enter destination markets duty-free. Language – Only English-speaking nation in South America. Labor – Competitive wage rates with a literate and trainable labor force. Openness to Investment – Guyana’s leaders have declared Guyana ‘open for business’ and are taking steps to improve the investment climate.

Guyana offers potential investors—foreign and domestic alike—investment opportunities over a broad spectrum of activities, particularly in export-oriented industries. Opportunities include mature, yet often lucrative sectors, such as mining, timber, sugar, rice and seafood, as well as emerging sectors such as non-traditional agriculture (e.g. fruits and vegetables), agro-processing, aquaculture, value-added wood products, light manufacturing, tourism and IT-enabled services (e.g. call centers, medical transcription). In particular, the enormous growth potential of Guyana’s non-traditional sectors remains essentially untapped. Investors will find doing business in Guyana rewarding if they are able to leverage Guyana’s access to markets, favorable operating environment, and various investment incentives to establish or expand operations in sectors of opportunity.

The Government of Guyana seeks to work with current and potential investors to facilitate investment in the following industries showing growth potential:

• Agriculture and Agro-processing
• Seafood and Aquaculture
• Light Manufacturing
• Forest products
• Tourism
• IT-enabled Services
• Mining
• Energy

In its efforts to attract investment, the Government is emphasizing activities that improve efficiency and competitiveness. It is promoting strategies that encourage private income generation, job creation, an increased share of value-added activities in the economy, increased foreign exchange earnings and facilitate sustainable development.

This section presents an overview of the opportunities and reasons to invest in Guyana’s priority sectors. For more detailed information, interested investors should contact GO-Invest (see Box 2.1). Contact information and websites for sector relevant public and private organizations are provided in Appendix 4.