Guyana will begin exporting soya beans to Barbados for the first time within two weeks, as the country moves to expand agricultural production and strengthen regional food security.
President Dr Irfaan Ali said the initiative reflects Guyana’s rapid progress in developing large-scale agriculture through targeted investments and infrastructure expansion.
Speaking at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Annual Business Meeting Outlook 2026/2027, Ali said the opening up of the intermediate savannahs, along with improved road networks, is enabling increased production of crops such as soya, tropical fruits, coffee and cocoa.
“This is about creating a full ecosystem for production, value addition and export,” the president said.
He also highlighted growing connectivity between Guyana and northern Brazil, describing it as a key economic corridor that could open new markets, lower transportation costs and position Guyana as a regional trade hub.
Beyond agriculture, Ali called for urgent action to address inefficiencies affecting regional integration, including bottlenecks in customs, immigration and transportation systems.
“We cannot speak about partnership and integration if we are not prepared to fix the basic problems,” he said.
He pointed to efforts in Guyana to modernise systems through technology, including real-time monitoring of immigration processes to improve efficiency and accountability.
Ali also underscored the need to improve regional travel, noting that existing transit arrangements within the Caribbean remain cumbersome and hinder deeper economic cooperation. The president outlined opportunities linked to Guyana’s expanding infrastructure, including investments in energy, industrial development and logistics to support manufacturing and trade.
Ali urged Caribbean businesses to pursue consortium-based investment models to achieve greater scale and competitiveness in global markets.
“The future requires partnership, scale and the willingness to act decisively,” he said.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
