– to help improve lot of small businessman

A NUMBER of organisations representing Afro-Guyanese interests will today hold a major one-stop economic assistance event aimed at improving the lot of hundreds of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises in Region Four.

The event, which starts at 13:00hrs sharp, is billed for the auditorium of the Critchlow Labour College on Woolford Avenue.

Similar conferences are to be held in Linden at the LEN Building on Saturday, and on the Corentyne at the Rose Hall Youth and Sports Club on August 8.

The event will allow business owners to get guidance and assistance from representatives of commercial banks and agencies like the Small Business Bureau, IPED, the New Building Society, the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority, Credit Info Guyana, and the Deeds and Commercial Registries, as well as several government ministries and other agencies.

Over a dozen agencies have confirmed their participation, and several government ministers have signalled their intention of attending the event aimed primarily at bringing the services of State and private enterprises directly to end users.

Many small-business owners have been vocal about the difficulty of accessing credit to grow their businesses, and others are unaware of how to register and start up a business formally.

The various agencies will have their own booths or desks to render direct assistance to attendees. Attendance is absolutely free.

The event is being organised by the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly, Guyana. Other supporting organisations include the African Business Roundtable (ABR) and the Nile Valley Economic Community (NIVALECOM).