Pres. Ali urges Guyana-Canada Chamber to embrace use of AI, robotics

To prepare Guyana for a technology-focused future, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday night urged the Guyana-Canada Chamber of Commerce to embrace the use of artificial intelligence and robotics when conducting business.

The Head-of-State made his appeal after receiving the Visionary Leadership Award at the Chamber’s Maple Leaf Ball.

He said the government’s national plans must be supported by the private sector and one important goal, is that of achieving a fully digitised society and economy.

“In 2030 businesses must be supported by a strong technological platform, a platform that is driven and supported by technology that is above our time, our educational services, our health services, food production.

“We can’t speak about a viable future is we don’t speak about digitisation of government services and digitisation in the private sector. No company can survive in a business environment in a world 2030 and beyond if we don’t understand the role of digitization and what it means for business and transaction,” President Ali told the gathering.

Dr Ali also reminded that the government hopes to build a nation that will lead climate security, energy security, and food security in the Caribbean Region. He explained that Guyana’s nascent oil industry has propelled the country to a position where it cannot afford to move backward.

He added too that Guyana cannot afford to sit back and let time and resources go to waste.

As such, he urged the Chamber to utilise its international partners to secure innovative business opportunities.

“Every company must be looking for international partners and that is the usefulness of these chambers, it allows that smooth connection at networking between companies here and companies in Canada,” Dr Ali said.

He further noted that part of innovative thinking and possibilities Guyana can adopt through AI and robotics is incorporating it in agriculture, education and tourism. Government has made massive investments in bolstering the country’s eco-tourism.

To create the advancement of AI with the development of several sectors including the aforementioned, an agreement signed between Guyana and the UAE will see 150,000 children trained in coding.