Mission to Guyana

Representatives of COA member companies with Guyana President Irfaan Ali and senior Guyanese government officials. (Photo: Terrence Thompson)

Share

COA Convenes Members and Guyana Officials in Georgetown

In the organization's first trip to the country, COA President and CEO Susan Segal and senior investors met with President Irfaan Ali and his ministers.

Georgetown, Guyana, July 29, 2026— Council of the Americas leaders and representatives from member companies visited Guyana for the first time last week, meeting with the country's officials and private sector leaders to explore ways to collaborate and discuss Guyana's investment opportunities in sectors like oil, gas, electricity, and mining.

"Over the past several years, Guyana has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies," said AS/COA's President and CEO Susan Segal. "We are delighted to be here with a distinguished group of senior executives from many of our member companies who are eager to learn more about the country and its remarkable economic transformation. We've been able to see the real development taking place across the country, and I have been especially impressed by the number of opportunities that exist for companies to engage in Guyana's continued development."

On Tuesday, July 21, the COA delegation met with Guyana President Irfaan Ali and members of his cabinet, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, as well as Governor of the Bank of Guyana Dr. Gobind Ganga. 

The discussion, held at the Office of the President in Georgetown, centered around the president's long-term economic vision and the country's energy expansion and infrastructure development plans.

Before the meeting with President Ali, Segal and COA members met with representatives from Guyana's private sector to talk about the country's economic transformation, business environment and regional integration, among other topics.

At the meeting were members from Guyana's Private Sector Commission, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shipping Association of Guyana, Guyana Youth Entrepreneurship Chamber, Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association, and Customs Brokers Association. The meeting was led by Captain Gerald (Gerry) Gouveia Jr., chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) of Guyana.

Gerry

Segal and Captain Gerald (Gerry) Gouveia Jr. (Photo: Terrence Thompson)

That evening, COA hosted a dinner at the Georgetown Marriott with Guyana's Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, the U.S. Ambassador in Guyana Nicole Theriot, and the Dominican Ambassador in Guyana Ernesto Torres. The discussion focused on strengthening public-private collaboration and enhancing Guyana's competitiveness in the hemisphere.

Cena Guyana

COA dinner with Guyana's Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and the U.S. Ambassador in Guyana Nicole Theriot. (Photo: Terrence Thompson)

On Wednesday, July 22, Segal and COA members had breakfast with John Crippen, deputy chief of mission of the U.S. Embassy in Guyana, along with other diplomatic staff. The conversation provided an overview of Guyana's political and economic landscape and U.S.–Guyana relations.

John Crippen

U.S. Deputy chief of Mission John Crippen and diplomatic staff of the U.S. Embassy in Guyana. (Photo: Terrence Thompson)

That afternoon, COA members met with Alistair Routledge, president of ExxonMobil Guyana, to discuss the development of Guyana's energy sector and the role of oil production in driving the country's broader economic transformation.

Exxon

Alistair Routledge, president of ExxonMobil Guyana, and Segal. (Photo: Terrence Thompson)

Council of the Americas expresses its heartfelt condolences to the people of Guyana following the MV Barima ferry tragedy, with our thoughts remaining with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and all those affected.

Press contact: mediarelations@as-coa.org