The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in collaboration with the World University Services of Canada (WUSC) are developing a Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre that is expected to be completed completed and operationalised by the second quarter of this year, a GCCI release stated on Tuesday.
Funding is being provided by Global Affairs Canada,
The release noted that the Chamber has been collaborating with WUSC over the last two and a half years, to undertake capacity-building with farmers across the country through outreaches. Then on December 20, the two organisations inked an agreement to institutionalise this initiative into a permanent programme through the establishment of the Learning Centre which will be housed at the GCCI’s Secretariat in Georgetown.
The agreement was signed by GCCI Senior Vice President, Kathy Smith; and Country Coordinator (Guyana and Suriname) for the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) Project, Krysten Sewett, in the presence of the Chairperson of GCCI’s Agriculture Committee, Brian Edwards; Secretary and Councillor, Melisa McRae-George, and WUSC’s Agribusiness and Marketing Officer, Parmanan Chandranauth.
According to the release, the Learning Centre was conceptualised by the GCCI in a bid to further support Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME), which make up about 75 per cent of the Chamber’s membership, while supporting the enhancement and advancement of the agriculture sector. The Centre will provide farmers with opportunities for skills development in areas such as sustainable farming practices, business management, marketing, and technology adoption. Through tailored courses, the objective is to help farmers increase productivity, improve supply chains, and access new markets—ultimately enhancing their economic viability.
Edwards, who has been leading in the countrywide outreaches, noted the importance of a sustainable approach to capacity-building, which the Centre will provide. “It’s a dedicated space for women and youth in agriculture to learn, grow, thrive and build their capacity. It will empower MSMEs.”
Meanwhile, Senior Vice President Smith emphasised the importance of providing resources for women farmers in Guyana, while Chandranauth commended the GCCI for its commitment to the development of farmers, particularly as it relates to enhancing their operations as food producers. And Sewett further lauded the Chamber’s initiatives. “We want to thank the GCCI for leading a lot of the key initiatives in agriculture… You have demonstrated your ability to be a convener in working with women, youth and small-scale male farmers to help them improve their economic prosperity”, she said.