The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment hosted a Guyana Day Seminar on March 4, 2013 at Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto,Canada for investors, prospectors and financiers in the extractive industries which attracted a large number of stakeholders for the various minerals sub-sectors.
The forum was attended by persons who are working or seeking to invest in the mining industries around the world. The 2013 Guyana Day Seminar at the PDAC has proven to be one of the most successful events for Guyana over the years for this annual mining convention which attracts on average of over 40,000 participants.
The seminar, led by a Guyana delegation was headed by Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud, along with Mr. Newell Dennison, Assistant Commissioner, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Mr. Bobby Gossai, Jr., Senior Policy Analyst/Advisor; Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.
Participants at the Guyana Day Seminar 2013 at Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto, Canada
Minister Persaud delivered the key note address and also made a presentation on the investment opportunities in the local extractive industries. The Minister in his address noted that the main objective of the forum was to highlight the performance of Guyana’s mineral development and the friendly business procedures for ensuring sustainable mining practices.
He also pointed out that there are challenges in governing the minerals industry, but the Government of Guyana is ensuring an enabling environment by working with all stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. At the same time, the Minister noted that Guyana is also working to develop the bauxite and manganese sub-sectors.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, Senior Policy Analyst/Advisor; Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr Bobby Gossai Jr., Consul General of Guyana to Canada Mrs. Sattie Sawh, High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana Mr David Devine and Assistant Commissioner, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Mr Newell Dennison.
It was also highlighted that the oil and gas sector is in the initial stages of development and as such the Governments of Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for technical cooperation on the transfer of skills and technology to develop the hydrocarbon sector and renewable energy between the two countries.
The forum was also attended by the High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, H.E David Devine, who stated that the Governments of Guyana and Canada have had a good working relationship in promoting investment locally, and currently there are 34 Canadian mining companies that are working at various stages of mineral development in Guyana.
The High Commissioner also highlighted that there are two Canadian educational and training institutions that are working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to offer various courses through the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Inc.