Korean group lays out development plan for Silica city within seven years

Yeachon Architect and Association, a South Korean company based in Seoul, today presented a comprehensive development plan for Guyana’s first smart city – Silica City – to President Irfaan Ali, Senior Members of his Government including Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and representatives of the Private Sector.

In presenting its smart city plans for Silica City, the Yeachon Architect representatives, with the use of a video, explained that they have designed a city that would efficiently manage and distribute valuable resources like electricity, water and gas, that would allow for it to be independent and self-sufficient.

It was noted that the urban city would be designed to be one of the world’s most ideal smart cities, and an economic hub for the Caribbean with technology at the forefront of its developmental agenda.

According to them, it will be a carbon free, interconnected, sustainable, comfortable, attractive, and safe city with housing, energy, transportation, healthcare and education facilities and services that are technologically advanced and smart.

The design also includes a Caribbean Medical Centre, Hypermarket and Commercial Centre, smart farms, hotel and sport facilities.

Using the design presented, Silica City could be built within a period of 7 years, two months, the Yeachon Architect and Association representatives said, adding that it could be completed by January 2030.

Silica City is expected to be built along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

The Yeachon Architect and Association representatives formed part of a US-Korean Trade and Business Delegation, that met with Government and Private Sector representatives at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Wednesday.

Interjecting at various intervals during the presentations, President Ali urged the Private Sector to capitalized on the various opportunities presented in the areas of Housing, Water, Agriculture, including Smart Agriculture, Tourism, Hemp, Security, and Health. He noted that his Government will be working with the Korean Government to advance smart agriculture at the Guyana School of Agriculture.

“The next 10 years is to build a foundation for a Guyana that…is way ahead of our time, that is futuristic, that is 2030 and beyond…This is about positioning Guyana, 2030 and beyond, and the Private Sector has to be part of [it],” the Head of State said

Meanwhile, Minister Ashni Singh said the Government was pleased to engage the delegation, which comprised some of the largest companies in Korea, operating with a global footprint. He explained that the companies have come to Guyana with specific proposals for investments, which would require critical decisions.

Noting that the delegation is in Guyana at an incredibly exciting time with the country having one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the Finance Minister boosted that the opportunities here are vast.

“Underlining that growth is an incredibly exciting impact and an unprecedented story about strong growth in the oil and gas sector but in addition very strong growth in the non-oil economy. This is not by accident. This, in fact, is the direct result of a deliberate policy position taken by a government to ensure that we set the foundation for…sustainable economic growth into the long term. So exciting opportunities abound in literally every productive sector of the economy whether it is agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, social services including things like healthcare, education, across the entire spectrum,” Dr. Singh reasoned.

He said currently, the Government is investing heavily in the area of infrastructure, in particular transport infrastructure, to enable a globally competitive economy. Reference was made to improve linkages to Brazil, Suriname, and port facilities that would allow greater trade with the Region, and further afield.

“An investment in Guyana represents an investment in a market that potentially leads into the entire Caribbean and all northern Brazil and beyond,” he said while pointing out that the seat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is in Guyana.

The country, he added, has preferential trading agreement with a number of countries in South America, North America and Europe. Minister Singh said Guyana stands ready to facilitate investment by the Korean Delegation.

Head of the Korean Delegation and President of Global Trade and Finance, KJ Lee said the US and Korean companies that are a part of the delegation are ready to invest in Guyana. The Global Trade and Finance President said the companies would like to facilitate the transfer of US and Korean technologies to Guyana in the area of education, energy, health, agriculture and infrastructure.

Noting that she wants the economies of the UK, Korea and Guyana to thrive, Ms Lee said the delegation is ready to work along with the Guyanese people, including their Private Sector.