GUYANA National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) introduced its management systems consultancy, training and auditing services at Regency Suites, on Hadfield Street, Stabroek, Georgetown, last Friday. The purpose was to sensitise businesses to the benefits of implementing management systems standards said Head, Conformity Assessment/Manager of the Training, Auditing and Consultancy Services, Ms. Candelle Walcott-Bostwick.
She said it is also vital for competitiveness in trade and would facilitate a company to have its goods and services accepted.
Walcott-Bostwick said GNBS secured the expertise through the 2010 National Competitiveness Programme (NCP) in which 10 officers were trained on each of the standards.
She said, basically, the agency wants to make businesses, manufacturers, service providers, exporters and potential exporters aware of the advantages of implementing the standards.
Walcott-Bostwick said GNBS can work with companies so that they can develop their  efficiency and performance, by providing training on what  information needed to be put in place for competing on the international market.
She explained that the standards programme allows GNBS to visit companies and audit the books to any management system and make the business know how to implement it.
On the Friday occasion, 40 businesses were invited and a session was conducted on globalisation and trade, in view of the fact that Guyana is exporting a lot of products.
Walcott-Bostwick said the exporters need to know the requirements for exporting and, as such, they must be geared to be competitive with their products because some businesses are not certified and have to be to implement the standards and become aware of what is required for international globalisation.
Giving an overview of the NCP-GNBS component, Project Manager, Mr. Radha Krishna Sharma said the Government of Guyana is working closely to implement an NCP strategy for more income by developing more jobs, exports and investments.
He said the NCP is a US$27M initiative funded with a loan by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to enhance Guyana’s competitiveness and contribute to increased levels of private investment and exports.
Sharma said it is an integral part of a wider endeavour to implement Guyana’s national competitiveness strategy and the programme focuses mainly on policy reforms, institutional strengthening and public/private partnerships, all of which will contribute to economic growth and job creation, as well.
Making remarks on the occasion, too, were GNBS Executive Director, Ms. Evadnie Enniss-Belfield; GNBS Technical Officer 1, Mr. Trumel Redmond; GNBS Technical Officer II, Mr. Elton Patram and Administrator, Matching Grants, Ms. Taryn Mendonca.
Another objective of the Friday event was to provide information on how the implementation of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) management systems  can boost competitiveness and facilitate the acceptance of goods and services globally.