Nine businesswomen who are part of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Guyana were selected to participate in an exchange programme in the United States of America.
This is the first time that Guyanese women entrepreneurs were selected to travel out of the country to be part of the ‘Advancing Women in Business’ programme that focuses primarily on women, according to a press release by the Chamber.
The women will travel to New Orleans, where the four-day progamme will be held from April 19 to April 22. The programme is hosted by the Louisiana District Export Council, Jones Walker LLP and Techniques International.
“Each of these women is at a point in their business life where they are looking to do what they now do better; expand, grow or leverage what they have, to venture into something new,” Anita Rampersad, Director of Communications for the Chamber said.
The women participating in the trade exchange represent various sectors such as logistics, marketing, consultancy and construction, to name a few.
This mission grew out of the Louisiana Trade Mission to Guyana led by the Louisiana District Export Council, which visited Georgetown with a large delegation of companies in November 2022. The Programme will be held in New Orleans and hosted by the Louisiana District Export Council, Maraka Consulting LLC, Jones Walker LLP and Techniques Internationa
Typically, trade missions come from other countries into Guyana and they are hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the United States Embassy or through a government ministry. These programmes allow businesses to participate in various business building session, Rampersad said.
This time, however, through a collaborative effort, the Chamber and its partners in Louisiana planned the event that allows the women to travel and experience a trade mission from a different perspective.
The exchange programme will see the group participate in business meetings, round table discussions and networking opportunities that could further develop their businesses. The delegation will also hold discussions with US leaders and stakeholders on business opportunities in Guyana.
This delegation was selected after an invitation was sent to business chambers countrywide with the hope of attracting nominees from women-owned and operated businesses. The delegation will leave Guyana on Tuesday.
The women participating are: Rowena Elliot, President of the Women’s Chamber Commerce and Industry; Arifa Mohamed – Business Development Manager, SocialRank Media/ACE Consultancy; Ulex Smith – CEO/Owner, Signature Move Marketing Agency; Donna Rickford – CEO/Owner, Supreme Laundromat and Office Cleaning Services; Dr. Melissa Varswyk – Co-Founder and CEO, Georgetown American University; Beverly Whittaker – Associate Manager, Global Logistics and Business Services Inc; Nicola Whittaker – President/CEO, Global Logistics and Business Services Inc; Josephine Tapp – Managing Director, B&J Civil Works; and Anita Ramprasad – Founder/CEO, Prestige Management Consultant.
