– At ‘Uncapped Marketplace’ today

THE ‘Uncapped Marketplace’ initiative is just what the country’s small agro-processors need to bolster their businesses. At the same time, the purely private sector initiative provides for these businessmen and women to receive guidance on just how to achieve this objective.

The 2019 edition of ‘Uncapped’ is on today at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, from 10 am to 8 pm. During this time, the approximately 80 exhibitors will have a fine opportunity to display and market products that they would have made right here in Guyana.

Visitors to the event will be allowed in for free and will be able to set their eyes on the rich, quality products made right here in Guyana by their fellow Guyanese.

This year’s ‘Uncapped’, an initiative by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), is to have a new feature, being that fresh produce will also be on sale, as opposed to previous events when only processed items were being offered.

Uncapped Marketplace was started in October 2017 at the Sophia Exhibition Center with the objective of providing a platform for the small agro-processing businesses, allowing them to showcase and sell their products, and also to network with businesses and interested persons.

Apart from the GMSA, other agencies will be on hand to provide guidance to the exhibitors on how they can better package and sell their products. These agencies include the Small Business Bureau, Republic Bank Limited, Guyana Marketing Corporation and the Bureau of Standards.

“It is an opportunity for those already established to build and further promote existing brands,” GMSA has said, adding, “What we want to do is to build the capacity of the small agro-processors to help them to find niche markets in the Caribbean and in Guyana to start with, and ultimately, the United States of America and Canada.

A day of fun for the entire family is also planned with games, music, “a wide variety of real Guyanese food” and lots of giveaways.

As part of the excitement, the ‘Savour the Flavour – Guyana Uncapped Competition’ will allow anyone to enter and have a chance to win shelf-loads of locally made products. “It’s simple. Participate online by uploading a photo of your favourite agro-processed product, telling us why you like it and hashtag it #uncappedflavours, or come to the event and assist in rating the products and get a chance to enter the grand competition to win shelf loads of local products from our uncapped cabinet,” GMSA said.

The event is being sponsored by Sterling Products Limited, GMSA, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Ministry of Business, Banks DIH, ExxonMobil Guyana, NAMILCO, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, John Fernandes Limited; Brand partners include Sagacity Inc. and Star Party Rentals.

The GMSA hopes the event will help to see improvement from agro-processors who will be participating. “That is why the ‘Savour the Flavour Competition’ is designed to get feedback from the public, while they can still win big.”

Reflecting on the effect that the initiative had on his business, Mohamed Qamar of Mohamed Enterprise said, “I was pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the event, especially since it was a major boost to my business.” Qamar has been operating his business for the past 18 years, and specializes in photo frames and model dolls, using wood shaving, corn husks, coconut fibres and banana leaves.

Christina Isurdeen from Lisa’s Manufacturing said, “We bring to you the best in authentic Guyanese flavours. What we manufacture and bring to the Guyanese public is the carambola fruit. We’ve also added some confectionery and snacks, such as plantain and cassava chips (and) tamarind balls; and we recently started the pineapple and guava jams.”

In the past, 13 women groups were represented at the event by the Women’s Agro-processing Network Development (WAND). These groups hailed from Regions One, Two, Four, Five and Nine. The products on display by these women included cocoa sticks and coffee from Region One; peanut butter and Acai wine from Region Two, jams, jellies and relishes from the Hillside Farm in Region Four, coconut products and chutneys from Region Five; and farine and cashew nuts from Region Nine. Group member, Denise Thomas-Spencer is hoping that their participation will help with their expansion efforts.

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, who had toured the exhibition in the past, had commended the exhibitors for their efforts to improve the packaging and presentation of their products and services.

He said: “This definitely falls in line with international standards. They (the entrepreneurs) understand the concept of good packaging; they have a greater brand awareness which comes out in their approach to business. Certainly, I have seen an improvement in the quality of packaging over the last few years.”