By Shauna Jemmott

WITH a great demand for coconut water among other products on the export market, Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) General Manager Ida Sealey-Adams is calling on manufacturers of agro-products to get on board with the marketing entity to benefit from extended business.
When the Guyana Chronicle visited the GMC on Monday, a group of manufacturers had their products on exhibit outside the company’s Robb and Alexander Streets headquarters, which promotes their products and create market linkages.
In an interview with Sealey-Adams, the Chronicle was told that coconut water was exported bottled, sealed and frozen and available fresh on the market in Trinidad and Tobago among other countries.
She said the GMC did not export the products per se, but whenever a potential exporter makes contact with the corporation and expresses interest in a particular product, the GMC will provide them a list of manufacturers of that product.
“GMC’s role is to create the linkages between manufacturers and exporters for the product requested… And they make the choice,” she said.
She is impressed with the demand for the bottled coconut water.
“If it is one agro-processed product that you want that is being exported and in great demand now, it’s bottled coconut water,” the Manager said.
She listed also unrefined coconut oil, jams and pepper sauce and other sauces, among the products on demand by various countries.
She is encouraging agro-processors who haven’t yet been in contact with the GMC to do so right away.
“Manufacturers, especially in small business enterprises, will have no regrets, since the GMC’s role is also to assist in the development of the agro-processing industry,” she noted.
GMC assists in a number of ways, including product promotion, and on Monday staged an exhibition outside its office as part of Guyana’s 46th Republic Anniversary celebrations.
Sealey-Adams said they also share information with new producers relating to packaging, linking them with suppliers of plastics bags, bottles, glass jars, other packaging material and labels.
According to her, GMC is obligated to assist the local manufacturers in product development “to make their product more marketable because they are competing with similar products locally and products that are similar that are imported.”
For manufacturers to be supported by the GMC, they must have their food and drug manufacturing licenses and their business registered at the Deeds Registry.
“Regardless of who you are, regardless of which region you come from, we don’t segregate…we don’t discriminate. You come in, once you meet the minimum requirement, we take your product. We assist in promoting the agro-processors’ products, especially the small ones who can’t go out and launch,” Sealey-Adams said.
Omalita Balgobin, a marketing representative within the GMC explained that the day before each national holiday, GMC offers its manufacturers marketing opportunities by staging an exhibition.
Monday a number of agro-products were on display for sale in front of the GMC building; producers drawn from all regions.
The representative said GMC facilitates the product manufacturers at trade shows nationally and internationally and is also hoping to establish Guyana Shop corners in stores countrywide.
She said GMC already has the Guyana Shops on the East Coast of Demerara, Parika, Berbice, and in Essequibo Coast and is working on establishing others in Region 9 and Bartica.
“We purchase the product and have it available in Guyana Shop corners.”
Products range from beauty and enhancement, foods, ornaments, etc.
Aubrey Alexander is the latest producer on board the GMC group.
He produces salsa, pickled ochroes, and relish.
He believes his product is the only locally produced relish in Guyana and was delighted to be part of the promotion. It is the first time his products, under the label ‘Ma Tilly’s’ had been exhibited.
Alexander is encouraging Guyanese to buy not only his products but to support the local producers.