The private sector credit expanded sharply in 2025, rising by an estimated 18 per cent to $531.8 billion, with notable increases in lending to key productive sectors including manufacturing, mining and services, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh reported during the presentation of Budget 2026.
Dr. Singh told the National Assembly that the growth in private sector credit over the last five years has been one of the clearest indicators of confidence in Guyana’s economic performance, and said the composition of lending also reflects progress in diversifying the economy.
He said lending to business enterprises increased across agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing and services. In 2025, credit to agriculture expanded by 4 per cent, mining and quarrying by 30 per cent, manufacturing by 29.7 per cent, and services by 11.4 per cent.
In dollar terms, Dr. Singh reported that credit to the agriculture sector increased by $1.3 billion to reach $32.8 billion, while mining and quarrying credit grew by $1.7 billion.
He said the manufacturing sector recorded a major jump, with credit rising by $12.9 billion, driven by higher lending to beverages, food and tobacco, as well as other manufacturing activities and construction and engineering-related manufacturing.
The Senior Minister also reported that lending to the services sector expanded by $18 billion to $175.9 billion, as activity increased across wholesale and retail, transport and storage, and administrative support services.
The finance minister said these outcomes demonstrate the impact of government policies aimed at improving access to financing and encouraging productive investment across all sectors of the economy.
