Promote:
Invest in Guyana
A short guide for companies expanding into Guyana: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Guyana at a glance
Population
835,986
The World Bank reports a population of 835,986 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Guyana population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$27.1 billion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$27,097,477,218.23 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Guyana GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$32,414
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$32,413.79 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Guyana GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
19.3%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 19.3 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Guyana real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
3.4%
Consumer prices in Georgetown rose 3.4 percent over the 12 months to September 2026, the Bureau of Statistics reports.
Source: Bureau of Statistics, Georgetown consumer prices, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$8.97 billion
UNCTAD reports foreign direct investment inflows of US$8,968.225 million in 2025.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment inflows, Guyana, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Guyana dollar (GYD).
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Guyana, Secretariat report, January 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 26, 2022
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) is the government agency for investment promotion and export development.
Source: Government of Guyana Portal, GO-Invest agency page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
GO-Invest's 1994 order makes it the investors' primary contact and liaison with ministries, and no source read describes a one-stop shop of agency desks.
Source: GO-Invest Order 1994, Official Gazette, August 27, 1994 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 27, 1994
Section 57 of the Mining Act limits prospecting permits for medium- and small-scale mining to Guyanese citizens, companies wholly owned by citizens, co-operatives and bodies set up under Guyanese law.
Source: Laws of Guyana, Mining Act, Cap. 65:01, 2012 revision (opens in a new tab) · as of 2012
No Special Development Zone had been designated as of the 2026 Budget Speech, which says areas will be designated.
Source: Ministry of Finance, Guyana Budget Speech, January 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 26, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Guyana
- Register the company or business name with the commercial registry, which registers companies, business names, trademarks and patents.Deeds and Commercial Registries AuthorityAs of 2021 the WTO review lists company registration fees of GYD 80,000 to GYD 300,000.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Guyana, Secretariat report, January 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 26, 2022
- Get a taxpayer identification number (TIN) online through eServices or at a revenue authority office.Guyana Revenue AuthorityA new TIN certificate costs GYD 1,000.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guyana Revenue Authority, cost of a TIN certificate (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register as an employer with the National Insurance Scheme before you hire.National Insurance SchemeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: MINTIC, Doing Business page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Ask GO-Invest for the incentive forms; a tax exemption under an investment agreement is drafted by GO-Invest, reviewed by the revenue authority and approved by the Minister of Finance.Guyana Office for InvestmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Guyana Revenue Authority, exemptions under investment agreements (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 5 more set-up steps
- Apply to the sector licensing authority before operating, for example the Geology and Mines Commission for mining, if your sector needs a license.Guyana Geology and Mines CommissionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Guyana, Secretariat report, January 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 26, 2022
- Apply online for the landing permit or employment visa for foreign staff, and advertise the vacancy in newspapers for three consecutive months first.Ministry of Home AffairsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Immigration Support Services, landing permit for employment (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Buy or lease land: the Investment Act lets investors do so subject to the laws in force, and the Lands and Surveys Commission administers state land.Guyana Lands and Surveys CommissionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Act 2004, Act No. 1 of 2004 (scanned text) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 31, 2004
- Open accounts in Guyana dollars and in foreign currency with a licensed bank, which section 23 of the Investment Act allows.Licensed commercial banksOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Act 2004, Act No. 1 of 2004 (scanned text) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 31, 2004
- Repatriate dividends, earnings and capital through a licensed bank once taxes are paid, which section 24 of the Investment Act allows.Licensed commercial banksOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Act 2004, Act No. 1 of 2004 (scanned text) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 31, 2004
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with GRA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Company and business name registry
DCRA
Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority
Registers companies, business names, trademarks and patents, and keeps the land deeds registry.
Visit DCRA (opens in a new tab)Source: Government of Guyana Portal, Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Home affairs ministry
Home Affairs Ministry
Ministry of Home Affairs
Handles visas, landing permits and employment visas for foreign staff through its Immigration Support Services eServices site.
Show 5 more organizations
Finance ministry
Ministry of Finance
Approves tax exemptions under investment agreements, on the revenue authority's recommendation.
- Meet requirements
Land administration agency
GLSC
Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission
Administers state land and surveying services, and publishes the State Lands Act and the Land Department Act.
Visit GLSC (opens in a new tab)Source: Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Foreign affairs ministry
Foreign Affairs Ministry
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Runs the CARICOM Single Market and Economy online application for skilled persons and keeps the list of Guyana overseas missions.
Visit Foreign Affairs Ministry (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CSME page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Small business support agency
Small Business Bureau
Runs small business loans, business incubator centers, entrepreneurship training and a help desk.
Visit Small Business Bureau (opens in a new tab)Source: Small Business Bureau, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Social insurance scheme
NIS
National Insurance Scheme
Collects employer and self-employed contributions and pays social insurance benefits.
Visit NIS (opens in a new tab)Source: National Insurance Scheme, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
GRA
Guyana Revenue Authority
Runs customs export declarations in ASYCUDA World, the Guyana Trade Network, exporter registration for Norway, and tax registration.
Visit GRA (opens in a new tab)Source: Guyana Revenue Authority, exports page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
GCCI
Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Represents about 1,000 member businesses and offers trade agreement information, a business toolkit and a members directory.
Visit GCCI (opens in a new tab)Source: Georgetown Chamber, About the GCCI page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Manufacturers and services association
GMSA
Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association Ltd
Speaks for producers, manufacturers and service providers and runs member programs, events and a member directory.
Visit GMSA (opens in a new tab)Source: GMSA, About page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Local content rules
The Local Content Act, Act No. 18 of 2021, created the Secretariat that keeps the register of Guyanese suppliers to the petroleum sector.
What to do: Check the Secretariat requirements and register before you bid to supply the petroleum sector.
Sources: Local Content Secretariat, About page (opens in a new tab); Local Content Secretariat, registration requirements (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Currency and settlement
The IMF says the gap between official and market exchange rates reached almost 4 percent in late 2024, and the Bank of Guyana sold foreign currency.
What to do: Agree the invoice currency and settlement date in each contract, and ask your bank about conversion timing.
Source: IMF, Guyana Article IV report, May 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of May 7, 2025
Logistics and border performance
The Guyana Trade Network page says the average export operation takes 200 hours and the average import operation 156 hours.
What to do: Allow lead time for permits and Customs steps, and apply through the Guyana Trade Network early.
Source: Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Trade Network page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Reserved sectors
Section 57 of the Mining Act limits medium- and small-scale mining permits to Guyanese citizens, companies wholly owned by citizens, co-operatives and bodies set up under Guyanese law.
What to do: Ask GO-Invest and the Geology and Mines Commission which mining scale and license type fits your project.
Sources: Laws of Guyana, Mining Act, Cap. 65:01, 2012 revision (opens in a new tab); WTO, Trade Policy Review of Guyana, Secretariat report, January 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 4 more
Special Development Zones
The 2026 Budget Speech says government will designate areas as Special Development Zones with targeted fiscal incentives, and it names none.
What to do: Ask GO-Invest whether a zone has been designated before you choose a site around zone incentives.
Source: Ministry of Finance, Guyana Budget Speech, January 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 26, 2026
Beneficial ownership
The IMF says Guyana still needs to meet the beneficial ownership transparency requirement of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
What to do: Expect to disclose your company's beneficial owners, and check the current filing rule with the commercial registry before you register.
Source: IMF, Guyana Article IV report, May 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of May 7, 2025
Electricity
The IMF's 2025 report puts the cost to produce electricity at US$0.32 per kilowatt-hour, and the 2026 Budget Speech promises a reduction.
What to do: Ask GO-Invest about expected power costs for your site before you finalize an investment case.
Sources: IMF, Guyana Article IV report, May 2025 (opens in a new tab); Ministry of Finance, Guyana Budget Speech, January 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 26, 2026
Border areas
The Foreign Office of the United Kingdom says Venezuela disputes the legitimacy of its border with Guyana, and that the border security situation remains tense.
What to do: Check current travel advice and your insurer's terms before you schedule site visits near the border.
Source: FCDO, Guyana travel advice, updated December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 30, 2025
6. How Promote:Global helps
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- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Guyana is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.