The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) said five local producers of indigenous processed foods are in Canada to participate in the annual SIAL-11 agricultural trade show in Toronto.
In a press release, the GMSA said the exhibition started on Sunday and will run until Saturday. The participants operate small and medium-sized enterprises that have been in the business of preserving, processing and bottling fruits, vegetables and other agricultural by-products for some years. They were selected after a rigorous process of evaluation and in-plant visits by its technical representatives and the Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) of Canada international consultants.
The exhibitors are Jet’s Enterprises, of de Kinderen East Coast Demerara; Tandy’s Manufacturing Enterprises of Eccles, East Bank Demerara; Original Juice, of Upper Pomeroon; Prestige Manufacturing and Bottling Enterprise of La Grange, West Bank Demerara; and the Kuru Kururu Farmers, Crops and Livestock Association of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Each exhibitor expects that this exposition “will open the gates to the Canadian and American markets for their “Made in Guyana” products,” the release said.
The GMSA also said this trade mission is another spin-off of its continued collaboration with the TFO. The main objective is to provide access to the Canadian market for Guyana’s agricultural producers and processors, for artisans, furniture manufacturers and owners of indigenous enterprises that have produced items that meet international standard.
It also said this effort is one more step in the overall process to create opportunities for business growth, to expose small business owners to markets outside Guyana’s borders, and provide access to international expertise and funding.
According to the GMSA this is the second mission it has spearheaded this year. In January eight artisans from rural communities showcased a collection of intricate household artefacts designed with leather, cane, woods, clay, tibisiri and other indigenous derivatives at the Canadian Interior Design Show (IDS-11) that was also held in Toronto. Funding for both these trade missions was provided by the Canadian International Development Agency.
In addition, in April 2010, the GMSA hosted its first Export Packaging Workshop for agro-based exporters and manufactures of primary and secondary products. It focused on regulations and standards for export packing materials, printing labels, packaging equipment, testing and quality assurance. Training continued in September 2010 facilitated by two local consultants, Ronald Noble and Arnold De Mendonca, who were specially trained by TFO to conduct the said workshops.
GMSA president Clinton Williams had told participants at that workshop that the best means of encouraging a consumer to buy a product is its presentation. “This is where every manufacturer gets the opportunity to make that good first impression and to achieve international acceptance,” he said.
