In a significant move set to boost agricultural development and economic diversification, Guyana, the fastest-growing country in Latin America and the Caribbean, is taking steps to partner with the Dominican Republic, the region’s second-fastest-growing economy to develop its cacao and coffee exporting potential. On Tuesday, 29 July 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana, signed a landmark agreement with the Dominican Republic to launch large-scale cacao and coffee cultivation in its Region One. This initiative will leverage the Dominican Republic’s extensive experience in these sectors.
Dominican Ambassador Ernesto Torres Pereyra signed the agreement for the Dominican Republic. The press release does not give details on what public and private entities in the Dominican Republic will be the counterparts.
During the signing ceremony, Guyana’s Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, emphasized the government’s dedication to introducing high-value crops. “We’ve been working with IICA to develop this industry, and this agreement will bring tremendous improvement. We have the land, and we’ll establish the necessary infrastructure to ensure sustainable production.”
The project is projected to yield approximately 8,000 metric tonnes of cacao at peak production. Beyond the agricultural output, the initiative is expected to directly and indirectly benefit nearly 3,000 individuals through new employment and economic opportunities.
The governments of Guyana and the Dominican Republic are working on several bilateral projects. Likewise, businesspeople from companies in the Dominican Republic are investing in major projects in Guyana as that country experiences an economic boom fueled by the new exploitation of petroleum deposits.
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Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana
31 July 2025