Agriculture’s role in Guyana’s diversification agenda highlighted at first Energy Conference Village

Despite a heavy focus on oil and gas, agriculture remains a key pillar of Guyana’s economic diversification agenda.

This was emphasised Monday by Kiana Wilburg, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Conference & Expo, as she joined the Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in opening “Conference Village” at the Kingston Seawall Esplanade.

The Village serves as a platform to showcase Guyana’s agricultural products and attract potential investment from delegates attending the Energy Conference from 18–21 February.

“The Guyana Energy Conference is a hub for bringing international and regional experts and stakeholders from 26 industries together. We want to highlight the potential of our farmers, agro-processors, and all those involved in the agricultural sector.

“Our aim is to connect them with local partners who have the capacity to collaborate and to showcase the investment opportunities available in Guyana’s agricultural landscape,” Wilburg said during her remarks.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, noted that the event seeks to integrate industries to demonstrate their collective potential.

“Although oil and gas is an attractive sector, the agriculture sector has developed rapidly over the past four years. We have seen significant growth in agriculture,” Mustapha said, highlighting the introduction of over 4,000 new products in the agro-processing market.

“We have been increasing and expanding production in traditional crops, but Guyana is now also emerging as a destination for new and innovative agricultural products,” he added.

The fourth edition of the Guyana Energy Conference is set to be the largest and most impactful yet. Alongside the main four-day conference, several major events will take place, including the recently concluded Energy Run on Sunday, an Essay Competition, the ‘Taste of Guyana’ event, and the Conference Village.

Wilburg further told News Room that over 200 companies will participate in this year’s Energy Conference and Expo, with discussions led by industry leaders from Guyana and around the world.