In anticipation of this week’s International Energy Conference and Expo, which is being held from February 15 to February 18 at the Marriott Hotel at Kingston, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has organised a Benab Duty-Free Shop at the nearby Umana Yana, to showcase local products.
GMSA President Rafeek Khan told this newspaper that the duty-free shop will build exposure for a select number of local businesses responsible for processed and manufactured products and will allow investors to meet the owners and get to know their businesses.
The use of the Umana Yana building and compound was sanctioned by the government.
“What we are having here is an exhibition that is aligned with and together joined with the energy conference so everyone attending the energy conference will have a taste of Guyana in what can be exported primarily to the various countries, because this is the international energy conference. We wanted to give the world a taste of what we have here in Guyana to offer, this includes our arts and craft, our agro-processors, beverage companies, our forestry companies, [and] timber products,” Khan explained. He added that private sector organisations are also participating.
The Association president highlighted that business owners here need capacity building and investments, especially the small and micro-businesses. These businesses, he noted, showcase the potential or niche products offered by this country. “We need to take these products to the international market but we need to build capacity. Our capacity has been based on our local market demand and somewhat our regional market demand. We would like to encourage the visitors coming here to take the opportunity to meet with the businesses, engage them, understand their core strengths, and let us build capacity in terms of meeting the demand for Guyana’s amazing products.”
Indigenous crafts, processed foods and spices, and other locally produced items are among the products to be showcased at the shop. In addition, an eco-friendly timber home, manufactured by DuraVilla Homes will be built in the compound. The timber home promotes the resources of Guyana and re-introduces this type of home structure in the country.
Matt Sawaqued, the project consultant from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, said that Guyana and Dubai have a relationship which has been developing for about a year now. He noted that Emiratis, among other international travelers, have travelled to Guyana for the expo and “we find a huge array of products and services that are available and very unique to Guyana but they lack a know-how, how to do marketing and distributing the product for reaching capital.” He pointed out that the Emirates know how to market and distribute the products and are working with local businesses towards this end. “This home is an example of how we work with businesses to expand their horizon. We already have a consensus from several countries that they want to buy these kinds of products and we know number of people coming especially to buy these products.”
Orrin Hinds, the architect and designer on the team, explained that the home, described as contemporary, could be used as a residential house, small office, and even expanded depending on the budget.
