President Irfaan Ali and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir yesterday held discussions on investment and bilateral cooperation on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
A brief statement from the Office of the President said the meeting was held at Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and centred on advancing investment cooperation and strengthening relations between the two countries.
The statement did not identify any proposed investment, agreement or timetable arising from the discussions.
Ali was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Carolyn Rodrigues and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud.
Guyana and Saudi Arabia have expanded their development cooperation in recent years, principally through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).
Stabroek News reported in June 2023 that the government and the SFD signed two loan agreements totalling US$150 million. A US$100 million loan was intended to finance roads, water, electricity and other infrastructure for approximately 2,500 housing units across three regions, while US$50 million was allocated for a new four-lane bridge at Wismar, Linden. The terms of the loans were not disclosed in the government’s announcement.
The first phase of the Saudi-financed housing programme was subsequently launched at Leonora East, West Coast Demerara. Stabroek News reported in December 2025 that the Wismar bridge was nearing completion.
Al-Jubeir was in Guyana earlier this year for an energy conference, where he said Saudi Arabia wanted to expand cooperation through investment, knowledge-sharing and responsible energy development. The government also committed land for the establishment of a Saudi embassy in Guyana during a Guyana-Saudi Arabia investment engagement
Ali joined other world leaders at the opening of the General Assembly yesterday and met outgoing United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the session, according to the Office of the President.
He is scheduled to address the General Assembly tomorrow. The Guyana delegation also includes Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh.
Discussion