Guyana’s week-long study and investment mission to Europe has wrapped up with officials and private-sector leaders returning home armed with new insights that could accelerate the country’s transformation in port development, agriculture and export readiness.
The inaugural EU–Guyana Global Gateway Study and Investment Mission took the delegation across France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, where they examined how some of the world’s most advanced economies manage ports, protect food systems and move goods efficiently across borders.
Led by Chief Investment Officer Hon. Peter Ramsaroop, MP, the delegation included representatives from MARAD, NAREI, GO-Invest and top private-sector players such as the GMSA, PSC, UMAMI, DDL, Banks DIH, Cranes Guyana Inc., VEHSI and Guyana Port Inc. Diplomatic support was provided by Ambassador Sasenarine Singh, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the EU and the OACPS.
The mission was funded by the European Union and supported by FIAP, with participation from the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC), the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), the EU Delegations to Guyana and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture of Barbados. This ensured strong regional alignment as Guyana and its neighbours work to improve logistics and food-safety systems.
Inside Europe’s busiest and most innovative ports
Port modernisation was at the heart of the mission. Delegates toured the ports of Antwerp-Bruges, Rotterdam, Fos-Marseille, Málaga and Algeciras—studying everything from digital tracking systems and Port Community Systems (PCS) to green-transition policies and advanced cold-chain operations.
At the European Commission in Brussels, Guyanese officials engaged DG INTPA and DG AGRI on global trade rules, export regulations and investment frameworks under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. Meetings with maritime associations and chambers of commerce helped the private sector explore opportunities for future collaboration.
The timing is pivotal. Guyana is currently developing a modern Port Act to bring its maritime framework in line with international standards. Private port developers—including those working on the deep-water port—were able to examine terminal-automation models, governance structures and sustainability features they plan to integrate at home.
These takeaways are expected to influence new port projects, shipyard upgrades, dredging operations and the overall flow of commercial shipping in Guyana.
High-tech agriculture for a food-secure future
The mission also placed heavy emphasis on agriculture. At Wageningen University in the Netherlands and IFAPA Campanillas in Spain, the delegation explored next-generation farming technologies: agrivoltaics, climate-resilient crops, smart irrigation and advanced shade-house designs.
With Guyana pushing aggressively into protected agriculture and controlled-environment farming, the lessons could not have been more timely.
Agro-processors on the mission—including some of the country’s largest—focused on shelf-life extension, SPS standards, energy-efficient production and cold-chain systems that are essential for reaching distant markets. Officials said the exposure to European techniques for preserving perishables has opened promising avenues for export growth.
At the Port of Algeciras—Europe’s most efficient port—the team studied sophisticated temperature-controlled logistics systems used for moving large volumes of fresh and frozen produce. Guyana hopes to incorporate similar systems into its agro-processing expansion and export-readiness plans.
‘Not negotiations—knowledge’: Ramsaroop
Hon. Peter Ramsaroop said the mission was deliberately structured to be hands-on, practical and solution-driven.
“This was a study and investment mission, not a negotiation mission,” he emphasised. “Our goal was to understand the systems that can help Guyana modernise its ports, strengthen agriculture and expand exports. We now have a clearer direction on where we can adapt global best practices to our local context.”
He noted that the broad mix of participants—port operators, agro-processors, shipping companies, regulators and policymakers—means that discussions back home will draw on multiple perspectives.
With Guyana’s economy expanding rapidly and its role in global trade increasing, Ramsaroop said the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda now offers a strong platform for continued technical cooperation, capacity building and potential investment partnerships.
The mission, he added, has laid the foundation for a new era of collaboration—one that positions Guyana and the wider Caribbean to compete more effectively in global markets while strengthening food security and modernising maritime systems.
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