The President of Guyana, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, was recently honoured with the Global Inspirational Leadership Award during the just-concluded 9th edition of the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL), which was held on the margins of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the New York Hilton Midtown, USA, on September 21, 2023, with the theme: African-Caribbean Cooperation and Today’s Geopolitics.
The award is in recognition of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali for his performance and achievements gained in the varying sectors and their contributions to the growth of the economy, especially during the first half of this year.
President Arfaan Ali of Guyana is the 10th president of Guyana. He was a member of parliament and the minister of housing before becoming the President of Guyana. His administration has been committed to managing the country’s newfound oil and gas resources, with the establishment of the Department of Energy to ensure the socio-economic development of the country.
Under the leadership of President Ali, Guyana is leading the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) efforts to reduce the food importation bill by 25%, revitalise sugar and cocoa production, increase the productivity of the agricultural industry, including rice, livestock, and poultry, as well as tourism and hospitality, to diversify the country’s economy away from oil dependency. President Ali has also led efforts to stimulate economic growth through various direct foreign investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social services.
At the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) in New York, Mr. Pitan was honoured alongside the Vice President of The Gambia, H.E. Muhammad B. S. Jallow, and the Minister for Sea, Culture, and Tourism, Cabo Verde, Hon. Jose Gonçalves.
Other high-level policymakers and business and diplomatic leaders at the event in New York include H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia; Hon. Serign Modou Njie, Minister of Defence, The Gambia; Amb. Dr. Lamin B. Dibba, The Gambian Ambassador to the United Nations; Amb. Momodou Lamine Bah, The Gambian Ambassador to the United States; Dr. Anselmo Monteiro, President, National Institute of Social Security, Angola; Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; Hon. Rosalyn Myers, Member, South Carolina House of Reps, USA; Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade, Afrexim Bank; among others.
The International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) is an annual flagship event of the African Leadership Magazine that is held annually on the side of the United Nations General Assembly. Over the past 8 years, the event has become a platform that connects world leaders, especially from Africa and the Caribbean nations, policymakers, and private sector leaders, with a focus on the challenges and progress of the African people, strengthening trans-regional cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean nations, building strategic partnerships and bilateral cooperation, as well as increasing engagements in trade and investments, innovation and technology transfer, culture and tourism, and other sectors.
