Georgetown: Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, received Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, during an official visit by a UAE delegation aimed at strengthening trade and investment cooperation between the two friendly countries. The delegation, comprising senior government officials and business leaders, was welcomed by President Ali at the Presidential Headquarters in Georgetown.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting was attended by Omar Shehadeh, Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Caribbean and Pacific States. Al Zeyoudi conveyed the greetings of the UAE leadership, including President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other prominent officials, along with their wishes for the prosperity of Guyana and its people. President Ali reciprocated with greetings to the UAE leadership and expressed wishes for the UAE's continued progress.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across various sectors, particularly in trade and investment, reflecting the growing relationship between the UAE and Guyana. President Ali reaffirmed Guyana's commitment to deepening its relations with the UAE and praised the continued growth of bilateral cooperation. He highlighted the aspiration to expand partnerships with the UAE, especially in trade and investment, to support shared interests and sustainable development goals.
President Ali noted the rapid development of bilateral relations, emphasizing the advanced level of understanding on development priorities between the two countries. He called on private sector representatives to build sustainable partnerships and exchange expertise to deliver tangible results. Regular high-level visits and direct communication between officials have strengthened mutual confidence, creating favorable conditions for launching initiatives and partnerships.
As part of the visit, organized under the "UAE Trade Days" initiative, Al Zeyoudi held bilateral meetings with senior ministers and officials from Guyana. The discussions highlighted opportunities across strategic sectors, including renewable energy, agriculture, technology, mining, infrastructure, financial services, and security solutions.
The visit also featured a roundtable attended by President Ali, ministers, investors, and business leaders from the UAE and Guyana. Participants reviewed trade and investment opportunities and explored ways to strengthen private sector partnerships to support investment flows and promote sustainable economic development. Discussions included opportunities to improve logistics connectivity, facilitate trade, and encourage greater private sector cooperation.
Al Zeyoudi highlighted Guyana's fast-growing economy as a promising opportunity to enhance trade and investment flows with the UAE. He emphasized the importance of deepening dialogue and expanding collaboration to lay the foundations for a strong and sustainable partnership.
Non-oil foreign trade between the UAE and Guyana reached US$746.3 million in 2025, representing a record increase of 48.4 percent compared with 2024. This reflects the growing trade and investment relationship between the two countries and the significant opportunities for further economic cooperation with Guyana.
The UAE economic delegation included representatives from government and private sector entities, as well as companies operating in technology, digital services, renewable energy, agriculture, food industries, logistics, transport, mining, healthcare, financial services, and security solutions.