RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali told world leaders Tuesday that a nation’s size should never determine its ability to compete, as he urged greater recognition of small developing countries as models of transformation and sustainability.
Speaking at the 9th Future Investment Initiative (FII9) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ali said countries like Guyana — with just over 83,000 square miles and about 800,000 people — are proving that bold leadership and investment in human potential can overcome traditional barriers to growth.
“The size of a country should never determine its ability to compete,” Ali said during a high-level panel at the Riyadh forum, which brought together heads of government, global investors, and policymakers under the theme “The Key to Prosperity – Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth.”
Ali stressed that competitiveness must be defined not by geography or population, but by innovation, education, and infrastructure.
“If we limit our ability to be transformative and innovative by the size of our population or our country, then we will never be able to compete,” he said. “That is why investment in human capital, technology, and infrastructure is so important.”
The Guyanese leader highlighted his country’s rapid rise as the world’s fastest-growing economy, driven by major oil and gas discoveries, while emphasising that Guyana’s development vision extends far beyond petroleum.
He cited ongoing investments in education, healthcare, food security, and digital transformation, describing efforts to build an artificial intelligence–ready economy while strengthening traditional sectors such as agriculture and eco-tourism.
Ali also positioned Guyana as a global leader in environmental preservation, noting that the country has maintained more than 89 per cent of its forests, storing nearly 19.5 gigatons of carbon, even as the world has lost about 60 per cent of its biodiversity over the past 50 years.
“This is the country that is keeping the world alive,” he said. “Guyana is providing real solutions to global problems like deforestation and climate change, yet few know of it — and that reflects how global priorities are often misaligned with real solutions.”
Drawing comparisons with nations such as Qatar, Ali said Guyana is “leapfrogging” toward a more diversified, technology-driven future and stands ready to partner with international investors to accelerate that transformation.
“We are bringing in talent, technology, and partnerships, because we do not have the time or human resources to start from scratch,” he added.
The FII, often dubbed the “Davos of the Desert,” serves as one of the world’s premier platforms for responsible global investment, linking finance, innovation, and sustainable development.