President Ali named to TIME’s 2025 ‘Next 100’ list of emerging global leaders

Guyana’s President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has been named to TIME Magazine’s 2025 TIME100 Next, a list of 100 rising leaders across the world who are shaping the future in business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health, and activism.

The recognition places President Ali among an elite group of global trailblazers and visionaries identified by TIME as individuals whose influence is set to define the coming decades. The TIME100 Next is an expansion of the iconic TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people. The full list, along with written tributes, appears in the October 13, 2025 issue, available on newsstands October 3 and online at time.com/next.

For President Ali, who assumed office in August 2020 at the age of 40, the recognition underscores his growing international profile. Under his leadership, Guyana has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing economy, driven by its vast oil discoveries, while also pushing aggressive policies on food security, climate change, energy transition, and global cooperation.

Ali has used international platforms—from the United Nations General Assembly to climate summits and trade forums—to position Guyana as both a leader of small states and a serious voice in global development debates. His inclusion in TIME’s 2025 list reflects how his blend of economic pragmatism and outspoken advocacy on climate and equity issues resonates beyond Guyana and the Caribbean.

Domestically, the honour is expected to boost his popularity, reinforcing his image as a leader who not only commands attention at home but is also making waves abroad. It strengthens his narrative of building a modern Guyana that has a seat at the global table, and it may resonate particularly with younger Guyanese, who see their country gaining unprecedented international recognition.

Globally, the recognition adds to Ali’s appeal as a dynamic statesman from the Global South. In recent years, he has championed the cause of developing nations in climate finance and biodiversity protection, while also navigating complex geopolitics in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Being listed among TIME’s “Next 100” does not only validate his work so far but positions him among a new generation of world leaders to watch—something that could translate into deeper diplomatic, trade, and investment opportunities for Guyana.