Overview
Guyana is an Amazonian country with a population of around 800,000 located in the northern part of South America. The country is going through a transformative path as it is becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing economies thanks to new revenues from oil production. Guyana is firmly committed to further the green and inclusive transitions in its economic transformation.
Guyana is one of the few countries worldwide with which the EU has signed both the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and the Forest Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). They were endorsed in 2022 in the margins of the UN climate conference (COP27) and the UN biodiversity conference (COP15).
Our partnership
The EU supports Guyana towards sustainable and inclusive development, in line with the ‘Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030’ and the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda. Our action builds on Guyana’s firm commitment to be a leading example in forest conservation and green transition and becoming a regional hub in the health sector.
€29 million have been earmarked for Guyana for the 2021-2027 period to foster sustainable investments in collaboration with Member States, the European Investment Bank, International Financing Institutions, the banking and private sectors.
The Joint Forest Partnership Team Europe Initiative in Guyana and in Suriname brings together the EU and its Members States, with France as the main partner. France is equally the driving member of Team Europe in overall Guyana and EU cooperation.
Guyana is also part of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance and benefits from cooperation on security through EL PACTO 2.0 and COPOLAD.
EU-Guyanese partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Forest partnership and implementation of the FLEGT VPA
The EU and Guyana are approaching sustainable forest management from multiple angles: economic opportunities, community wellbeing, and environmental protection. That includes:
- Developing sustainable and inclusive forest-based value chains.
- Rehabilitating mined-out areas with new ecosystem services and economic opportunities for local communities.
- Financing the restoration of mangrove forests.
- Expanding technical assistance to the government on payment for ecosystem services and the forest carbon project.
- Health resilience and manufacturing of health products
The EU is helping Guyana build out its health sector, including pharmaceuticals. Specific activities include:
- Supporting Guyana’s regulatory agency as it reaches higher maturity.
- Improving the professional and technical qualifications within Guayana’s pharmaceutical sector, as well as its institutional capacity.
- Reinforcing opportunities for skills transfers with all EU-based pharmaceutical value chain stakeholders.
- Water and sanitation
The EU supports the development of infrastructure with high quality standards in the water sector in Guyana.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has loaned millions to the Caribbean Development Bank towards the upgrade of seven water treatment plants to satisfy Guyana’s future water demand. The EU is also working with Guyana Water Incorporated to deliver safe, adequate and affordable water and to ensure safe sewerage systems for improved public health and sustainable economic development.
