Bilateral trade between Guyana and Canada grew by more than 50 per cent between 2021 and 2025, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said as he urged Canadian investors to explore opportunities beyond mining.
Phillips made the remarks on Wednesday evening at a reception for The Chair’s Circle during the Canada–Guyana Trade Mission 2026, where he identified energy, agriculture, infrastructure and technical services as priority areas for investment.

“Guyana is open for business, and Guyana is open to doing business with Canada. We welcome Canadian companies, investors, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, service providers and traders who wish to partner with us to build lasting prosperity,” Phillips said.
He acknowledged the longstanding presence of Canadian companies in Guyana’s mining industry but said the country’s economic transformation offered opportunities across a broader range of sectors.

In oil and gas, he highlighted opportunities for Canadian expertise in engineering, equipment manufacturing, environmental management, logistics and technical services.
He also identified potential investments in modern farming equipment, irrigation, storage and food-processing technologies, alongside infrastructure projects involving construction, transport planning and water-management systems.

Phillips stressed that foreign investment should strengthen local businesses, develop Guyanese expertise and create sustainable employment.
“Our ambition is not simply to attract investment, but to ensure that investment contributes to a stronger and more diversified Guyanese economy,” he said.
He also highlighted Guyana’s strategic position as a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its proximity to Brazil and Suriname, which could provide Canadian businesses with access to markets across the Caribbean and northern South America.

Approximately 86,000 persons of Guyanese origin reside in Canada, Phillips said, describing the diaspora as a valuable link for business partnerships, knowledge-sharing and investment.
He encouraged Canadian companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, to pursue business opportunities in Guyana and use the country as a base for expanding their regional operations.

Phillips urged trade mission participants to develop concrete proposals and strengthen business-to-business engagement, emphasising that private-sector investment would be essential to translating economic opportunities into jobs and innovation.
“Let this Trade Mission be remembered not merely as a visit, but as a turning point in the evolution of Guyana–Canada economic relations,” he said.

 

Prime Minister Mark Phillips