A memorandum of agreement for bilateral co-operation has been signed between Brazilian Services of Support For Micro and Small Business Enterprise (SEBRAE) and several local private sector agencies potentially opening avenues for more commercial activities between the two countries.
The Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), were the local bodies which signed the agreement. Representatives from these bodies as well as a group of potential investors recently travelled to Boa Vista, in the State of Roraima for a series of meetings with officials there.
The wide-ranging agreement includes several proposals which would see the various entities working closely on a number of initiatives. According to the agreement, meetings will be arranged with the superintendent of the Free Zone of Manaus so that knowledge of free zone establishment and management in this region could be shared with Guyana.
The agreement also outlines developing a marketing plan in collaboration with these agencies to market Guyanese products in Brazil as well as a training plan to teach Guyanese entrepreneurs how to conduct their business in Brazil.
The local bodies are to work with the Brazilian authorities to review the International Transport Agreement between Guyana and Brazil to improve and secure trade.
Describing the agreement as “historic”, Chairman of the PSC Ramesh Dookhoo yesterday said that there were many positives that came out of the delegation’s recent trip to Brazil.
He said many of the Brazilian distributors are interested in entering the Guyanese market. As it relates to Guyanese products, Dookhoo said that while “enough” local products are on the shelves of the stores in Boa Vista and Bon Fim there are still more avenues that can be explored. Dookhoo disclosed that a list containing 150 items has been submitted to the Brazilian authorities for scrutiny so it can be determined what needs to be done so they can be exported.
Meanwhile, Dookhoo said many of the local companies are seeing the trade opportunities and are now building warehouses in Lethem. He urged these companies to get the people in Lethem involved in their operations.
