Local businesses given much-needed visibility on Int’l market with ‘Who’s Who Business Magazine’
By Shikema Dey
Local businesses which are primed to service Guyana’s vastly growing economy were given the opportunity to showcase what they have to offer in the third edition of the ‘Who’s Who in Guyana Business Magazine.’
Launched on Tuesday evening at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown, the cover of the 2021 edition highlights the progress being made in the country using a ‘round about’ format – a deliberate move said to demonstrate Guyana’s transformation at every corner.
From the massive Liza Unity Vessel, the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre and the Ramada Princess Hotel, the 138-page magazine includes Guyana’s economic growth projections and covers 14 sectors, outlining the main players in each sector.
At the launch, Minister of Tourism, Commerce, and Industry Oneidge Waldron underscored the importance of the business magazine at this juncture of Guyana’s development where partnership is key as it gives “much-needed” visibility to local businesses on the international market.
“It gives valuable information to international partners about what is available right here in Guyana today and we expect that with that visibility, successful partnerships will emerge and persist into the future.”
She further added, “This will provide the foundation on which our local private sector can grow and flourish and I am confident that given the chance, our local firms will step up to the plate and be up to the task.”
While Guyana’s transformation is significantly premised on the oil and gas sector, the magazine features local companies from the agriculture, manufacturing and tourism sectors. And this move was lauded by the minister who noted it is a clear testimony to the “breadth of opportunities that awaits “serious investors” in Guyana.
With this third edition, ‘Who’s Who’ publisher, the head of ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc, Vishnu Doerga noted that there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of entities featured when compared to 2020.
And this, he said, gives a clear indication that Guyanese investors and business operators are saying that they are “open for business.”
Interest in Guyana’s local business has grown tremendously, Doerga added, as seen by the traction on the www.whoswho.gy website with over 100,000 visits being made in the past year.
“The top 10 visits were coming from Trinidad, US, Suriname, Barbados, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Guyana, India and Brazil and this is where the highest level of interest is coming from,” he pointed out.
“Guyana is a great place to invest in and that’s why we’re here, so let’s make sure that the world knows this,” Doerga added.
Similar sentiments were also echoed by the British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller who shared that the United Kingdom wants to maintain its strong partnership with this country through business.
“What an exciting time to be in Guyana. I’ve just been here three months and this is an incredibly exciting country to be in because you see growth everywhere…you see the boats being built, businesses coming in, houses being built…so much is happening and you see truly that Guyana is open for business,” the UK Diplomat shared.
She noted that the UK is “keen” on finding ways to bring British “expertise and pronounced talents” to the country to be part of its economic growth story.
The unveiling of the business directory was done by High Commissioner; Editor of the publication, Divya Doerga; Deputy Trade Commissioner of Latin America and the Caribbean, Spencer Mahoney and Minister Waldron.
Also in attendance at the event was the Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat along with other top officials.
A digital copy of the publication can be sourced on www.whoswho.gy.
