Community wealth at core of economic expansion plan for next five years – President Ali

Community wealth-building, regional development, and national productivity are the cornerstones of the PPP/C administration’s economic expansion strategy for the next five years, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced during a live address on Sunday.

At the core of the plan is support for small businesses, agriculture and community industries, alongside major investments in infrastructure and education.

Key pillars of the economic strategy include:

• Co-investment and grants for small and medium-sized enterprises
• Expanded part-time job programmes with skills training
• Incentivised lending through lower interest rates and reduced collateral requirements
• Community housing subsidies for low-income families
• Direct support to the arts, forestry, fishing and mining sectors

“We are not just investing in roads and ports—we are investing in people, in families, in dreams,” Dr. Ali declared.

The strategy also includes the development of agro-processing and cold storage hubs in every region, expansion of the rice and sugar industries, and support for community forestry groups. The President promised improved farm-to-market access, reduced spoilage, and better packaging facilities to boost rural economies.

To bolster these efforts, Guyana’s transport infrastructure will see continued upgrades, including roads, bridges, and regional ports, aimed at unlocking regional markets and facilitating direct export from the hinterland.

“This is how we move from growth to transformation,” the President said. “And this transformation must be felt equally in Charity, Lethem, Linden, Albion, and every other community in Guyana.”