CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Environmental Management Consultants, Shyam Nokta, had been elected president of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) when that body recently held its Annual General Meeting.

According to a release, CEO of Sterling Products Limited, Ramsay Ali, was re-elected first vice-president; Yonette Jeffers of Laparkan Freight Forwarders was elected second vice-president and Autamaram Lakeram of NAMILCO retained the finance portfolio of third vice-president.

Nokta, in accepting the board’s confidence, indicated that his main objective over the year will be to consolidate and expand the organisation by strengthening relationship between the board and member companies.

He indicated that an important area of focus will be facilitating the resolution of issues affecting members through closer collaboration with key stakeholders.

Nokta further indicated that emphasis will be placed on strengthening important sub-sector bodies covering agro-processing, services, chemical and pharmaceuticals, construction and engineering, forestry and wood products, fast foods, and minerals and related products.

The first-time president expressed his strong interest in seeing the GMSA establish strategic partnerships with other Business Support Organisations (BSO), which would position the business community to maximise opportunities from new and emerging sectors, such as the imminent hydrocarbon industry.

Nokta is highly skilled in the management of natural resources, the environment and climate change and has over 15 years of experience working as consultant.
He previously served as adviser and head of Guyana’s Office of Climate Change, where he was instrumental in the development and implementation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and negotiating of the REDD+ partnership with the Kingdom of Norway.

Nokta holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Assessment and Management from the University of Oxford-Brookes, and he was the recipient of several academic awards, including the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

First Vice-President Ramsay Ali held the reins of the GMSA following the passing of its President, Eon Caesar, in December 2016.

In brief remarks, Ali outlined some of the association’s recent achievements and interventions, which included preparation of the organisation’s Strategic Plan 2017-2020; strengthened relations with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); and facilitating members’ resolution of key issues.

These include GMSA’s successful negotiations with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Secretariat to expand the range of items exempt from the Common External Tariff (CET), and securing Government’s support and intervention with the United Kingdom to lift the UK Environmental Agency’s 2015 ban on Guyana’s Greenheart lumber.

“Guyana is beginning to attract more international interest, which could lead to foreign investments. In the GMSA’s opinion, Guyana has to rejuvenate the building and construction sector and really move into secondary and tertiary production of fruits and vegetables, wood, semi-precious gemstones, and coconuts, to name a few,” Ali said.

The GMSA has over 100 member companies covering the manufacturing and services sectors. The Board of Directors for this fiscal year 2017 – 2018 was also elected at the Annual General Meeting.

The board includes such companies as Sterling Products Limited, Banks DIH Limited; Edward B Beharry Group; Swansea Associates and Brass, Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF), which have kept the organisation strong and functional over many years.

Brass Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry, Swansea Industrial Associates, Tropical Shipping Agents, Sterling Products Limited, JTW Associates Management Institute Inc, National Milling Company, The Edward B Beharry Group, Environmental Management Consultants, Banks DIH Limited, Bosai Minerals Group,  Laparkan Freight Forwarders, Guyana National Industrial Company, Guyana Pawnbroking and Trading Company, New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, Safeway Security and Cummings Wood Products all have a presence on board for 2017-2018.