The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Guyana says healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure are among the sectors attracting growing interest from United States investors, as the country’s economic expansion creates opportunities beyond the oil and gas industry.
Speaking on the Energy Perspectives podcast, Executive Director Richard Leo urged Guyanese businesses to position themselves to capitalise on emerging partnerships with American companies by strengthening their competitiveness and understanding U.S. business practices.
Leo noted that while the energy sector continues to dominate investment discussions, an increasing number of American companies are exploring opportunities in other industries.
“I love the fact that you asked about the oil and gas sector. So interestingly, we’ve seen more companies coming in that are not in the oil and gas,” he said.
Among the sectors seeing the greatest momentum are healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure.
Leo stated, “I would say healthcare, agriculture… but certainly where you see the biggest booming is in the infrastructure sector.”
He attributed the growing interest in infrastructure to Guyana’s rapid development, pointing to the increasing demand for roads, buildings and other major projects across the country.
According to him, local businesses should identify the unique value they can bring to partnerships with U.S. companies instead of attempting to compete solely on size.
“Ask yourself, what is your unique selling proposition?” he advised.
He also encouraged businesses to ensure they meet all compliance requirements and familiarise themselves with American business culture before seeking partnerships.
“Ensure that you have all the compliances, ensure that you learn a little bit about U.S. culture and learn how the U.S. does things,” Leo said, noting that companies may be required to sign agreements such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance documents.
Leo said local firms should also make use of resources available through organisations such as the U.S. Small Business Administration and seek professional advice from U.S. attorneys and accountants to better understand how American companies operate.
He noted that Guyanese businesses have already begun taking advantage of opportunities in the U.S. market through initiatives such as the SelectUSA Investment Summit, held earlier this year under the leadership of Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh.
According to Leo, the summit demonstrated that the United States can serve not only as an investment partner but also as a gateway for Guyanese businesses seeking to expand into international markets.
He said, “We’ve seen the larger Guyanese firms take that opportunity. But… we need to ensure that there are mechanisms in place for these larger firms to share that knowledge with the smaller firms.”
Leo said building stronger partnerships between Guyanese and American companies will require more than investment alone.
He stressed that local businesses must focus on compliance, capacity building and collaboration if they are to compete successfully and benefit from opportunities emerging across Guyana’s rapidly diversifying economy.
