President Dr Irfaan Ali has issued a call to foreign manufacturers benefiting from Guyana’s growing market, to invest in local production and value-added industries or risk losing access to Guyanese consumers. Speaking on Saturday evening at the commissioning ceremony of Jags Aviation Inc’s new Dornier 228 aircraft, manufactured by India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the President said Guyana is no longer interested in solely being a consumer market and wants greater foreign investment in manufacturing and agro-processing.

The aircraft was delivered in March to Jags Aviation, a subsidiary of the BK Group of Companies owned by businessman Brian Tiwari. This acquisition follows an earlier purchase of two similar aircraft by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Addressing HAL representatives and Indian officials, President Ali renewed his call for the Indian aerospace manufacturer to establish a regional service and manufacturing presence in Guyana. He noted that Guyana’s confidence in HAL was never limited to purchasing aircraft. “We cannot go forward without value creation and manufacturing in this country. And that is where our energy must be,” the President underscored. “HAL and India are now placed to the test… I said to HAL, and I said to the Prime Minister (PM) of India, we are not interested in buying an aircraft. We are demonstrating our confidence in buying, yes. But we want you to establish a commercial hub and a service hub for HAL here in Guyana. And now that you’ve seen the private sector in Guyana backing a policy decision, the ball is in your court.” The Head of State said Guyana has already demonstrated its commitment to the partnership and is now expecting greater investment from the company.