ACTING Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali is urging manufacturers to channel their potential into networking within the region to respond to new emerging sectors, such as oil and gas, eco-tourism, and expanded agro-processing initiatives. Ali gave this charge during a meeting with key private sector organisations last week, when he examined strategic areas in which government can engage the business community to help them position themselves and strategise to take advantage of national policies, as well as provisions contained in this year’s national budget.
During the engagement, discussions surrounded steps to be taken to promote community tourism as part of a mainstream macro-tourism plan; the Ministry’s GRIF-funded micro-financing programme, and how this could be extended to benefit all.
There was also a proposal for innovative investments within some of the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) sub-sectors, such as bee-keeping, printing & packaging, and services.
Ali pointed to the importance of a collective approach which could lead to a multiplier effect for benefits accruing to regional projects that speak to eco-tourism, value added production, and alternative energy.
He outlined a number of initiatives out of which public/private partnerships could be promoted to match the interest of the private sector, government and rural communities; including making industrial sites habitable and productive; skills training to cushion effects of an exodus of skills away from current businesses and upcoming ones, such as those in the oil and gas sectors; and realigning businesses to be part of the supply/value chain of the said sector. There was also call for an upgrade in the hospitability industry in the regions, particularly in Region 6.
Meanwhile, representatives from private sector organisations expressed appreciation to the minister for the initiative he has taken to build synergies among the Private Sector Commission/GMSA and regional chambers of commerce.
Ali pledged to follow up on a number of ideas that were floated and to engage in discussions with the Ministers of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as part of a multi-sectoral approach aimed at stimulating job creation within the various administrative regions.
Ali acknowledged that the government and the private sector each has a responsibility to make investments by entrepreneurs sustainable through networking and a cluster approach in packaging, rebranding of manufactured products, and provision of services consistent with objectives of the National Competitiveness Strategy.

The private sector representatives who met with the Tourism Minister included Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookhoo; President of the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association, Clinton Williams; Vice-President of the Tourism & Hospitality Association of Guyana, (THAG) Clinton Urling; and Daniel Gajie from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.
The regional chambers of commerce and their national body, the Association of Regional Chambers of Commerce) ARCC, as well as the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) were also represented.