-cross-border commerce between Guyana, Brazil on the rise

THE Rupununi Chamber of Commerce (RCC), Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is looking to lobby the government on behalf of light-manufacturers in the region to have a place in Guyana’s manufacturing site.Light-manufacturing is the production of small consumer goods. One economic definition states that light industry is a manufacturing activity that uses moderate amounts of partially processed materials to produce items of relatively high value-per-unit weight.
With the call by government for more manufacturers to join the market, Chairperson of the RCC, Allison Camacho, said that manufacturers in her district are looking to take up the challenge.
“Over the years we have been growing from strength to strength… business in the region has grown more than people would have known in years gone by,” said Camacho.
More persons are investing in different areas but, the light-manufacturers are yet to find their place at the manufacturing site.
“We have been working with the Ministry of Business to ensure that the light-manufacturers get a space in the manufacturing site… most of them work from home, which is sometimes in residential areas, so their spectrum is limited,” said Camacho.
The RCC has been working towards that goal, but not without their fair bit of challenges, however, she said that they intend to work and continue to be committed to the region.
Camacho mentioned that the development of a commercial zone in Lethem, Region Nine, is evidence of their hard work.
This has helped businesspersons to settle in one commercial district instead of being divided and spread across the entire region.
The commercial zone has also created an avenue for the enhancement of inter-border trade with Brazil, a trade which has been going on for years.
“Business between the two countries continues to grow…we have been building a healthy relationship with the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in order to maintain border relations and make commercial transactions easier between the two nations,” said the RCC Chairperson.
With a drop in the local business sector, Camacho mentioned that they have been heavily dependent on Brazilians for business but, she is optimistic that the atmosphere of the local business environment will change soon.