EU to Host Health and Pharma Investment Mission in Guyana
May 29 2025- The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Guyana in partnership with Guyana’s Ministry of Health and the European Chamber of Commerce [Guyana] and will lead a Health and Pharmaceutical Investment Mission to Guyana from June 2 to 4, 2025, under the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative, aimed at enhancing collaboration between European health and pharmaceutical companies and Guyanese stakeholders to support the development of the country’s healthcare sector.
Other local partners for this landmark mission include the Guyana Office for Investment [GOINVEST], the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) and the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association (GMSA).
The mission will be held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown and will host more than 13 companies from EU member states, such as the Spain, Austria, France, Czech Republic, Portugal, Sweden, Italy and Ireland. Over the course of three days, the event will include sector-focused seminars, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, and organised visits to medical and pharmaceutical facilities in Guyana to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The government of Guyana has embarked on an ambitious programme in its broad plan for the support and modernisation of the health sector across the country. These efforts are aimed at providing world class health services to the Guyanese population and the wider region.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has actively advocated for establishing a world-class healthcare system in Guyana, with ongoing investments in healthcare infrastructure, including the construction of eight new hospitals with plans for an additional four. These modern facilities will require cutting-edge equipment and services—creating clear opportunities for collaboration with reliable international partners to improve diagnostics, imaging, connectivity, and healthcare delivery.
EU Ambassador to Guyana, René van Nes, emphasised the investment mission’s focus, stating, ‘’the European Union is proud to be supporting Guyana’s vision of becoming a regional leader in health innovation and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Under the Global Gateway Initiative this investment mission is dedicated to the health and pharmaceutical sector. Thirteen EU companies are coming to meet the government and the private sector in Guyana to foster sustainable partnerships that will enhance health systems, stimulate economic growth, and promote shared prosperity between Europe and Guyana.’’
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, also welcomed the initiative, highlighting that investing in Guyana at this juncture offers strategic access to broader markets across CARICOM and Latin America, enhancing opportunities for growth and market expansion. He added, “Looking back at what the world experienced during COVID-19, we recognised that many regions of the world do not have the manufacturing capacity. If we can co-locate that around the globe, it can make a big difference – in terms of pandemic preparedness, etc.”
Launched in 2022 by Guyana, Barbados, and Rwanda, the Pharmaceutical Equity for Global Public Health initiative aims to ensure equitable access to essential medicines and vaccines by strengthening local production and reducing dependence on external supply chains. With support from the European Union, this initiative promotes regulatory cooperation, technology transfer, and strategic partnerships to build sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. The EU is proud to back Guyana’s ambition to become a regional hub for pharmaceutical production, contributing to resilient Caribbean health systems. This investment mission supports those goals by deepening collaboration with the private sector and aligning with international quality standards—ensuring that safe, effective, and affordable medicines can be produced closer to where they are needed most.
In addition, the Government of Guyana is actively modernising its Food and Drug Department regulations to streamline processes, encourage pharmaceutical investment, and foster a more business-friendly environment for industry stakeholders. These regulatory reforms, combined with Guyana’s commitment to becoming a biomedical and pharmaceutical manufacturing hub for the region, are expected to position the country as a key player in regional health resilience.
This mission aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, designed to foster sustainable and secure partnerships globally, with a specific focus on critical sectors like healthcare.
Investing in Guyana, a thriving force of CARIFORUM, is a natural fit for the European private sector. The EU is already CARIFORUM’s third largest trading partner overall, after the United States (US).
Under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), CARIFORUM countries benefit from immediate, duty-free, and quota-free access to the EU market for all products, with certain exceptions for sensitive goods. In return, CARIFORUM nations have committed to gradually liberalizing their own markets over a 25-year period. For Guyana, the EPA presents substantial opportunities in the health sector. The duty-free access to the EU market facilitates the importa of essential health products and medical equipment, which can play a crucial role in enhancing the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
European and Guyanese companies interested in participating can register via the official mission website: https://nexconsulting.kartra.com/page/euinvestmentmission
