Over the past decade, Guyana has emerged as an energy powerhouse in the global oil market. Since oil production began in 2019, output has expanded rapidly, making Guyana one of the largest crude exporters in the Western Hemisphere and the world’s largest per-capita oil producer. As a result, the country has posted one of the fastest GDP growth rates globally over the past five years.
While the outlook is promising, key challenges remain, including managing volatile resource revenues and avoiding the “resource curse,” a phenomenon in which resource-rich countries often experience weak growth and political instability. These dynamics raise important questions about how Guyana can translate rapid growth into long-term, inclusive development.
We are honored to have hosted President Mohamed Irfaan Ali for keynote remarks, followed by an armchair discussion. He outlined his administration’s priorities following his recent reelection and renewed mandate, with a focus on managing resource revenues and sustaining long-term economic growth.
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Agenda
3:00 pm CDT — Welcome Remarks
3:05 pm CDT — Introduction
3:10 pm CDT — Armchair Discussion
Participants
Featured Speaker
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali was sworn in as the ninth executive president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in August 2020 and re-elected to a second term in September 2025. He holds a doctorate in urban and regional planning from the University of the West Indies, along with advanced degrees in manpower planning, international commercial law, and business management from institutions in the United Kingdom. Before assuming the presidency, he served in key government roles, including project manager in the Ministry of Finance, senior planner in the State Planning Secretariat, and later as minister of housing and water and minister of tourism, industry and commerce.
Ali is the architect of the Global Biodiversity Alliance, an initiative aimed at mobilizing international financing and political support for ecosystem preservation while advancing economic opportunities for developing countries. His leadership has earned international recognition, including India’s Samman Award for public service, the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, and a Global Leadership Award from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2025, TIME magazine named him among its rising world leaders, highlighting his influence in economic transformation and climate diplomacy.
