Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Chair and President Reta Jo Lewis Signs More Than Half Billion Dollar Loan Agreement with the Government of Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana – On Friday, Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIM) Chair and President Reta Jo Lewis signed a loan for half billion-dollars in financing from the United States to support a gas-to-energy project that will double the Guyana's installed electric capacity and transform Guyana’s economy. During her four-day trip to Guyana, Chair Lewis also met with President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Minister of Finance Ashni Singh and several other senior government ministers to discussed additional projects that EXIM could support with financing.
“By partnering with the U.S. and our private sector, Guyana has chosen the best-in-class equipment and a work culture dedicated to high standards and safety. U.S. equipment and technology offer reliable, durable, quality solutions for Guyana’s development,” said Chair Lewis. “This deal is a gamechanger. Not just for Guyana and the United States. But for the people, businesses, and shared aspirations that unite our two nations. This historic project and partnership will strengthen Guyana’s energy security, double its installed electric capacity, while providing cleaner and more affordable energy for families and businesses.”
Chair Lewis’s trip began with a meeting with President Ali, where they celebrated the historic deal that will support more than one dozen U.S. companies. Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Todd; Zulfikar Ally, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of Guyana; and Nicole D. Theriot, U.S. Ambassador to Guyana joined the meeting.
Next, Chair Lewis had lunch with Prime Minister Mark Phillips before travelling to Wales, West Coast Demerara to visit the gas-to-energy project site with. Chair Lewis, Prime Minister Phillips, Minister Singh, and Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat addressed the press and site workers before signing the loan.
Together, Chair Lewis and the Guyanese ministers joined a tour of the project site led by Natural Humberto Lopez, General Manager of LNDCH4, a joint venture involving Lindsayca, a Texas-based company, and CH4 Systems, a Puerto Rican small business. Chair Lewis learned how EXIM’s support to LNDCH4, with services provided by ExxonMobil, will be utilized to build a facility that will provide reliable electricity for tens of thousands of Guyanese.
On Saturday, Chair Lewis joined discussions with the Guyanese private sector hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana and the Private Sector Commission of Guyana. She noted that the gas-to-energy project will open many opportunities for the private sector, and that EXIM is ready to partners with Guyanese businesses of all sizes looking for U.S. exports.
In the afternoon, Chair Lewis met with Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture, and Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, to discuss additional financing opportunities for EXIM in Guyana.
To close out her trip, Chair Lewis attended an official dinner at the State House hosted by President Ali.
ABOUT EXIM:
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the nation’s official export credit agency with the mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. To advance American competitiveness and assist U.S. businesses as they compete for global sales, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. As an independent federal agency, EXIM contributes to U.S. economic growth by supporting tens of thousands of jobs in exporting businesses and their supply chains across the United States. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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