Some twenty -five (25) companies from the United States have already registered for a Trade and Investment Mission to Guyana from May 10 to 14, 2016 and to participate in the series of meetings and briefings that will be held with the government and private sector officials.
Coordinator of the mission, Wesley Kirton said “this trade and investment mission is timed to coincide with GUYEXPO 2016 -Guyana’s national exhibition of products, services and trade and investment opportunities which opens on May 12, and to the opening of which mission members have been officially invited.”
He noted too that during the visit, there will be meetings with top private sector and government officials including Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin and representatives of the Private Sector Commission. Specific sector meetings will also be arranged based on specific interests, the coordinator highlighted.
“The mission is intended to serve as a platform that facilitates networking with the key stakeholders and high level decision makers in Guyana; an opportunity to meet these decision-makers face-to-face and present business interests and proposals in a one on one environment; source Guyanese products for export and introduce new products directly to local target markets; and network and build relationships with potential customers for joint venture partnerships and investment.”
Guyana is being viewed as an attractive trade and investment destination providing opportunities for investment in “gold and other mining, eco-tourism and related hospitality development, agriculture and agribusiness, clean energy, electronic assembly, low income housing, financial services and the supply of consumer goods, raw material and equipment.”
Kirton said the mission has the full support of the Government of Guyana and the United States Embassy in Guyana, which have both indicated their support in writing and are assisting in finalizing the programme of meetings and activities. The Guyana Consulate in Florida, he said, is also assisting with arrangements.
He noted further that “we have also written to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat for a meeting since many of the companies want to get a better understanding of arrangements for both intra-regional trade and preferential access to international markets for products from Guyana and other CARICOM member states.”
Kirton also holds the portfolio of director of CARICOM Outreach Programmes at OAA and a founding director of the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
