Guyana, Singapore advance talks on energy, digital innovation, trade

Guyana and Singapore have agreed to advance discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation in energy, climate initiatives, digital transformation, and food security following bilateral talks between President Dr Irfaan Ali and Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan.

In a social media post on Tuesday evening, President Ali said he held bilateral discussions with Singapore’s Foreign Minister to develop a framework for closer partnership between the two countries. He noted that both sides are working toward collaboration in energy, climate action, technical support for artificial intelligence (AI) and digitisation, as well as expanding opportunities in food security.

He also encouraged Singapore to join the Global Biodiversity Alliance. In his own statement on social media, Balakrishnan said both Guyana and Singapore share similarities as small, multicultural states that support multilateralism, openness, free trade and international law. He also highlighted Guyana’s role as host of CARICOM, noting its growing importance in regional economic development across the Caribbean and South America.

Balakrishnan said he met President Ali, Foreign Minister Hugh Todd, and other Cabinet members during his visit to Georgetown. Discussions, he added, focused on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, energy, sustainability, food security and human capital development, as well as strengthening ties between Singapore and CARICOM.

He also met Singaporean nationals living and working in Guyana, saying their contributions are helping to build informal links between the two countries.