Govt tables Loan Agreements for major development projects across Guyana 

The Government has concluded a series of financing agreements that together advance some of the country’s most important infrastructure and development priorities: a modern arrivals terminal for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport; a new hospital for the people of Region Seven; an expanded and climate-resilient water supply in the Demerara-Mahaica region; and the next phase of reforms to safeguard Guyana’s natural environment.

Each facility was negotiated on favourable terms and matched deliberately to the project it funds, ensuring that the resources raised translate directly into services and assets that improve the lives of Guyanese. The agreements detailed below, together with amendments on two existing facilities, reflect a financing strategy that pairs ambitious national investment with careful attention to cost, structure, and long-term value.

A modern, expanded gateway to Guyana

The Government and Banco Santander, S.A. signed a EUR 61.43 million UK Export Finance-covered facility for the new arrivals terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

The Government of Guyana signed a facility agreement with Banco Santander, S.A. to finance the design and build of a new arrivals terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri. The agreement was signed on June 12, 2026.

The EUR 61.43 million facility supports the expansion of the airport’s capacity through the construction of a new arrivals terminal and the reconfiguration of the existing arrivals terminal, with the works being delivered by the Exporter, BHM Construction International (UK) Ltd. The facility is supported by a guarantee from United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, reflecting this international development partner’s confidence in Guyana’s economic trajectory and its creditworthiness.

As Guyana’s principal international airport, a modernised CJIA will enhance the travel experience for visitors and returning Guyanese alike, expand the airport’s capacity to accommodate rapidly growing passenger volumes, and further strengthen the country’s tourism, trade, and investment prospects.

Bringing modern healthcare closer to the people of Region Seven

The Government and China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. concluded a deferred payment arrangement for the construction of the New Bartica Hospital

The Government of Guyana entered into a Deferred Payment Agreement with China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. (CAMCE), for the construction for the New Bartica Hospital located in Region Seven. The agreement was signed on April 15, 2026.

Under the agreement, which supports the engineering, design, procurement, construction, equipping, commissioning, testing, training, and warranty of the new hospital. The deferred financing amount is Renminbi190.95 million.

The New Bartica Hospital represents a significant investment in modern, accessible healthcare for the people of Region Seven and surrounding communities, advancing the Government’s commitment to ensuring that quality medical services are available to citizens in every part of the country, including its hinterland and riverain regions.

Strengthening climate and environmental resilience

The Government and the Caribbean Development Bank signed a USD 50 million Policy-Based Loan to advance Guyana’s Environmental Sector Reform Programme

The Government of Guyana entered into a Loan Agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for the Second Environmental Sector Policy-Based Loan. The agreement was signed on April 27, 2026.

The USD 50 million loan from the Bank provides direct budget support for implementing priority reforms under Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. The programme is designed to enhance the country’s resilience to climate and disaster risk by strengthening institutional, technical, and financial capacities for biodiversity protection, climate change adaptation, and the sustainable management of water resources.

By supporting reforms in biodiversity governance, ecosystem restoration, climate forecasting, and access to treated water, the operation reinforces Guyana’s leadership in environmental stewardship while securing financing on terms more favourable than comparable market instruments.

Expanding access to safe, climate-resilient water supply

Guyana and the Japan International Cooperation Agency signed a JPY 5.242 billion concessional loan to finance the Water Supply Improvement Project

The Government of Guyana signed a Loan Agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Water Supply Improvement Project on January 22, 2026.

The Japanese Yen 5.242 billion loan has been extended under a joint financing arrangement between the IDB and the Government of Japan to support the Guyana Climate Resilient Water Infrastructure Improvement Programme for the Co-financing for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CORE). The Japanese resources will support the construction of a new water treatment plant and the improvement of climate-resilient water distribution networks, together with measures to strengthen GWI’s capacity to reduce Non-Revenue Water in the Demerara-Mahaica region. The Project is being implemented by Guyana Water Incorporated as the Executing Agency.

By improving access to safe drinking water and building resilience to climate change in the Demerara-Mahaica region, the Project advances the Government’s commitment to delivering reliable, modern water services to communities across the country while securing financing on terms among the most concessional available.

Amendments to existing financing arrangements

In addition to the new agreements outlined above, the Government also concluded amendments to two existing financing arrangements, each negotiated to improve terms or operational flexibility while preserving the favourable conditions originally secured. These comprised Supplemental Agreement II to the Bank of China Limited facility financing the New Demerara River Bridge Project, dated February 13, 2026, which restructured the facility to introduce a reimbursement mechanism allowing the Government to recover eligible payments already made to the construction contractor, extended the availability period, and revised the associated commitment and repayment arrangements; and an amendment to the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM Bank) Credit Agreement financing the Guyana Gas-to-Energy Project, signed February 3, 2026, under which the lender agreed to waive the commitment fee from the execution of the agreement through the date of first disbursement, thereby reducing the financing cost borne by the Government. Together, these amendments underscore the Government’s continued vigilance in actively managing its existing portfolio of obligations to secure the best possible value for the Guyanese people.

Over the past three decades, Guyana’s public debt architecture has undergone an extraordinary evolution, transitioning from one of the most heavily indebted nations globally into a benchmark of fiscal resilience and long-term sustainability. Driven by the Government’s aggressive development strategy across all sectors, Public and Publicly Guaranteed (PPG) debt relative to GDP dropped dramatically from more than 600 percent in 1991 to a mere 28.6 percent by the end of 2025. Concurrently, the nation’s debt-service obligation plummeted from a staggering 90 percent of Government revenues to a highly sustainable 5.5 percent, effectively unlocking critical fiscal space to fund vital national priorities in infrastructure, health, and education.

This remarkable trajectory is underscored by the International Monetary Fund’s 2025 Article IV Report, which classified Guyana as maintaining a low risk of debt distress with limited vulnerability to major economic shocks, a strong validation of this administration’s rigorous commitment to strategic financial management and fiscal discipline.