Need for more sensitization of Guyanese public on stock market benefits

By Stabroek News On In Business |
President Irfaan Ali (fifth from right) recently met with an executive team from the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Ashni Singh (sixth from right) and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond (fourth from right) were also part of the meeting. Managing Director of the JSE, Dr. Marlene Forrest is fourth from left. (Office of the President photo)
President Irfaan Ali (fifth from right) recently met with an executive team from the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Ashni Singh (sixth from right) and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond (fourth from right) were also part of the meeting. Managing Director of the JSE, Dr. Marlene Forrest is fourth from left. (Office of the President photo)

-Managing Director of JSE

By Khadidja Ba

A recent visit by the Jamaican Stock Exchange (JSE) to Guyana has highlighted how it can support to the local Guyana Stock Exchange (GSE).

Acknowledging Jamaica’s Stock Exchange development surpasses that of Guyana’s by leaps and bounds, Managing Director of the JSE, Dr. Marlene Forrest and her team ventured to Guyana for the second time on May 14th, 2024. The visit was not in a prescriptive capacity but more in keeping with that of capacity building and knowledge sharing. Their previous visit was for the Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference held at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre on October 3 and 4, 2023 which focused on “demystify the capital markets, unveil investors’ choices and convenient solutions to companies mobilizing capital to innovate, grow and expand” (GCCI).

Dr. Forrest, speaking to Stabroek News recalled the interests of the Guyanese companies and individuals being focused mostly on financial literacy, business opportunities, interest in the development and trends of markets. On the heels of such a successful venture and based on feedback, the JSE was inspired, according to Dr. Forrest, to return to Guyana’s shores with every intention of “further deepening and strengthening the relationships, that we forged during our 2023 Conference, to have a better understanding of the Guyana market and its participants, and also to learn about the opportunities for collaboration and the challenges facing the GSE and to see how the JSE can help, partner and support changes for growth.”