THE world is being described as a global marketplace. Each country has a responsibility to put its interpretation to this reality, hopefully a pro-active one, where that will see it working to be an active rather than passive player. In Guyana’s case, it could present multiple opportunities to be a player in any part of the world plying our products and aggressively competing with others.

The potential of this nation’s natural resources could be harnessed for the benefit of the people of this country, and in so doing, realise in real terms the potential they offer. This nation is among few blessed with pristine forests, gold, bauxite, rice and sugar and should not be content with only exporting primary products, absent value-added.

For instance, much of the furniture Guyanese use is being imported. With the amount of lumber at our disposal at this juncture of our development, Guyana should have been a major contender at the market in the exportation of furniture made from our wood. For years, Guyanese have been told that the private sector is the engine of growth, but in development, the private sector is but one sector in the tri-sectoral economy of which all have a role to play in economic development. Any country that has become strong in manufacturing has seen research and development as an important factor in moving the process forward, and in the case of countries such as China, the government has led the way.

The making of furniture in this country is long overdue for its deserving attention. As a matter of economic importance, pursuing with vigour the furniture-manufacturing industry can reap dividends for country and citizens. It may be necessary to get this off the ground with investment made by the government in training artisans to become furniture-makers. This can be done by recruiting proficient trainers from countries that are successful in this business. From an economic standpoint, government may find it feasible to invest in kilns to dry wood to specific standards.

Investment of such nature can create an industry, which can put thousands of people to work in an employment line which includes an array of skills from the felling of trees to that of marketing the product. There is also indirect employment and economic opportunities flowing from these activities, such as food-vending, which will rely on the farmers for produce, and so forth. Our forest must be, in the first instance, of benefit to the Guyanese society for generations to come. What is required is an indigenous plan and not one that awaits the initiative and direction from foreign investors. As the government embraces the policy of a “green” economy as its developmental thrust, the society will look forward to the state providing leadership in the sustainable exploitation of our resources, human and natural.

From the developed world, countries such as Guyana are being advised that free-market means that the state must keep its hands off of every business. Today, China is the world’s largest economy and has achieved this status rejecting the view of the hands-off approach of the state. China has overtaken the United States, which overtook Britain in 1872. The International Monetary Fund has estimated that China’s economy will be worth £16.7trillion in 2019, compared to the United States, the economy of which is estimated will be £13.8trillion for the same period.

China’s growth did not happen with the private sector leading the way, but by the government in a state-led economy. This country has created a model whereby its state companies are moving to other countries, primarily in the developing world, to invest, bringing their labour and returning monetary value to the Chinese economy. What China has done and continues to do, is to apply political economics not only to meet the needs of its population, but also to become a major player in the global market place, creating various levels of dependency on the country, and by extension increasing its influence on the world stage. Guyana can learn from the best practices of other countries in ensuring that the nation’s resources are exploited for the benefit of the country and citizens. This will require a level of self-determination which involves the Executive, National Assembly, stakeholders and citizens. We can and must reach for our potential.