ExxonMobil Guyana is stepping up its partnership with the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).
In a GMSA release, it was disclosed that ExxonMobil is supporting GMSA’s programme to pilot a web platform through a sponsorship of $10 million. This platform will facilitate information sharing, connectivity and communication, while linking products and service providers with potential clients nationally, regionally and internationally.
In acknowledgement of the devastating effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on small businesses, the initiative’s primary focus is to assist Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) with recovery and growth during and post COVID-19. A recent survey by the GMSA among its members had revealed that 17% of those polled have ceased operations with SMEs being impacted the hardest.
“This is a great opportunity for us to partner with the country and to help our SMEs in these unprecedented times.” said ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge. “We are glad to be able to play a part in supporting the recovery of agro-processing and small businesses in Guyana affected by the pandemic.”
GMSA Vice President Ramsay Ali in his comments stated: “While there are initial efforts to reopen businesses and get the economy going again, given the COVID pandemic, new and innovative ways of promoting and doing business will need to be adopted.” He noted that meetings, large gatherings and expos are unlikely to happen in the near term and added: “Embracing technology is therefore critical going forward.
The GMSA intends to pilot this initiative starting with the agro-processing sector and, with the lessons learned, expand to the forestry and wood products and services sectors in subsequent phases. We see this not only as a COVID response, but also as an opportunity to embark on the use of ICT as part of Guyana’s strategic direction of moving to a green economy. We welcome the continued support by ExxonMobil, which have been a principal sponsor for GMSA’s UncappeD Initiative.”
The GMSA and ExxonMobil Guyana previously teamed up to implement the UncappeD Initiative which increased awareness in the public domain and among key stakeholders of the wide range of quality agro- products being produced in Guyana and the entrepreneurs behind these products, the release added.
