Speech by Jean Kamau, UN Resident Coordinator, at the UN-University of Guyana 'Sustainable Economic Pathways for Guyana' Seminar

Vice-Chancellor

Deans and department heads

UG professors, academics and researchers

Students – future leaders

Colleagues

Distinguished attendants

On behalf of the United Nations in Guyana, I wish to express sincere gratitude to the University of Guyana for our ongoing and fruitful partnership and for the co-organization of this important and exciting seminar on the Guyanese economy.

The economic transformation underway in Guyana is nothing short of extraordinary - characterized by record-breaking growth rates and an exponential rise in public resources that can be channeled into sustainable development investments. These include infrastructure, health, education and other areas with the potential to markedly improve living standards for everyone across the country. Investment and policy choices made today are those that will build the foundations for a diversified, vibrant and inclusive economy going forward - one that will continue to grow and thrive across a broad range of sectors well beyond oil and gas.

In its approach to development, the United Nations is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals, enshrined in Agenda 2030 - a set of 17 goals that collectively define development pathways that are inclusive, sustainable and in harmony with the environment, all while ensuring that no one is left behind no matter where they live or what population groups they belong to. With its rapidly rising national income, Guyana is in a unique position to accelerate progress toward the SDGs, mobilize domestic and external resources for investment and strengthen the institutions that can transform economic potential into human development.

At the end of the day, economics is about how societies use limited resources in the most effective and efficient way to maximize benefits. It is also about ensuring that benefits are fairly shared and that everyone has the opportunity to meaningfully participate in their country’s development. This fundamental principle of inclusive growth is embedded in the UN’s Pact for the Future, which calls for just and inclusive growth and a renewed commitment to intergenerational equity. It reminds us that decisions made today must serve not only current citizens but also future generations who will inherit the outcomes of our choices.

Academia and universities play a critical role in every development context. Research and evidence not only create new knowledge and help us make sense of complexity but also serve a crucial function in informing policies and building an evidence-based foundation for better decision-making across the economy. At the University of Guyana, across its departments, research centers and institutes, cutting-edge research is being conducted across multiple disciplines — work that is vital to underpin stronger development planning and policy choices. In doing so, academia also strengthens accountability and public participation in policymaking, enriching public debate and helping to ensure that decisions reflect the evidence, needs and aspirations of society as a whole. This seminar is a good example of just that.

Today we are really celebrating the role of research, data and evidence in shaping economic development. We will hear from students and faculty about how they are using data, evidence and rigorous analysis to draw conclusions about how systems, policies and decisions can be optimized - how processes can be made more efficient, equitable and sustainable. I am especially encouraged to see so many students - future leaders - in attendance today. Your engagement and curiosity embody exactly the kind of forward-looking spirit that the Pact for the Future envisions - one where young people drive innovation, shape policy and lead the transition toward a more sustainable and inclusive world.

It is also an exciting time for UN–Guyana cooperation more broadly. We are currently in the process of defining the contours of our next cooperation framework for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, which will span the period 2027–2031. No doubt, the presentations this morning and the panel discussions this afternoon will provide valuable food for thought and inspiration as we define what the future of UN–Guyana cooperation might look like in terms of priorities and policy focus areas.

I wish you all a fruitful and engaging event and once again extend sincere thanks to the University of Guyana for this valued partnership.